The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) have launched a pilot of their Big Ideas Pipeline - an open process for systematically capturing, curating and developing ambitious and transformational ideas from the social science community and beyond.

ESRC are looking for ideas that aim to address a major challenge, infrastructural or capacity building need at scale. Big ideas are hard to achieve, require significant support to deliver and, if successful, will have significant impacts. They encourage interdisciplinary approaches (across but also beyond the social sciences) and international partnerships, and are expected to attract significant public, government, industry and/or third sector interest. 

The pipeline is not a call for proposals - big ideas demand a level of support and development that cannot be delivered through current ESRC funding mechanisms. They are aiming to generate and prioritise a repository of ideas which can be taken forward as funding opportunities arise. Ideas may also be used in the development of future research or infrastructure strategy. Anyone from the social science community and beyond can submit an idea, at any time. Submissions are welcomed from individuals and groups from academia, industry and third sector bodies (not just Research Organisations and Independent Research Organisations) and government.

You can find more information here, and if you require further information on the pipeline, please contact ideaspipeline@esrc.ukri.org.