Call for Proposals: Research Grants 

Second round of 2012 proposals
Deadline:  21st September 2012

The Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship invites funding proposals for research relevant to social entrepreneurship by research academics based at the University of Oxford and the Collegiate University.

We invite research proposals that align with the Centre’s research mission to advance theories of social entrepreneurship and its practical applications to address critical social, economic and environmental challenges.  Social entrepreneurship refers to the practice of combining innovation, opportunity and resourcefulness to address some of our most challenging social, economic and environmental problems.  Social entrepreneurial ventures may be for-profit or non-profit, but the priority is on using market-oriented activities to generate systems changes that improve people’s lives.

Social entrepreneurship is an interdisciplinary research field that draws on multiple subject areas and intellectual traditions.  This Call for Proposals seeks proposals that contribute to advance knowledge in science and technology-based social entrepreneurship.   Such research can take a variety of entry points, including, for example, health care, energy services, agricultural services, access to financial products and services, water/sanitation provision, digital access, telecoms, and governance and public policy initiatives that make possible or promote, such social entrepreneurial ventures.   

The Skoll Centre will award research grants to established researchers in science and technology – based social entrepreneurship in support of: 

1. Seedcorn research projects and proof-of-concept innovations in methods and theory;
2. Research assistance and direct doctoral research under the supervision of the grant applicant  (i.e., as a dissertation enhancement grant to fund dissertation completion by a supervisee, but not including subsistence cost for the supervisee);
3. Collaborative research that engages multidisciplinary areas of  scholarship;
4. Other types of inquiry and knowledge-producing projects developed in consultation with Skoll Centre researchers and staff.

Nature of the Funding, including eligibility to apply  

This Call for Proposals is directed to established researchers in the wider University:  people who hold a Ph.D. or equivalent from an accredited university, and who hold a research-oriented position in a Department and/or a College at Oxford University (including Institutes and Centres).   The proposal requires the endorsement by the head of the Department, Chair of the Faculty or Head of the Service, as appropriate.

Successful proposals will provide a detailed, viable plan to progress a research project that advances scholarly knowledge relative to the theory, policy and practice of social entrepreneurship. Our strong preference is for proposals that will likely result in research papers for journal submission.

Typical Awards will be up to £12,000 for one year from receipt, with priority given to high merit proposals that also show evidence of matching funds and/or that seek complementary funds from other sources.

Funding Coverage

Skoll Centre research grants are intended to provide research-active scholars who have an interest in social entrepreneurship with supporting resources that will enable, enrich and expand their studies. 

The grants can be used to fund:

• concept development and literature review
• travel and expenses associated with data gathering and analysis
• working paper development
• refereed conference presentations
• preparation of manuscripts for journal submission, and
• non-salaried research assistance

The Skoll Centre will typically not fund:

• teaching buyouts
• provide direct salary or subsistence support
• contribute to overhead or indirect costs.

Requirements of Recipients

Award recipients will be required to provide an interim report on progress of their research after 6 months and a final report at the end of the award.  In addition, recipients will be expected to attend workshops, seminars and conferences that may be organized on the theme of science and technology-based social entrepreneurship and to participate in the research activities of the Skoll Centre.

All publications and other scholarship (e.g., working papers, dissertations, teaching cases and more) supported by a Skoll grant should acknowledge directly the Skoll Centre research funding. 

Grants Process

A total of up to three grants will be awarded in each proposal cycle. 

For the second round of 2012 proposals, the deadline for the receipt of proposals is Friday, 21 September 2012.   We will acknowledge receipt of your proposal via email.

Decisions will be announced by Monday 22 October 2012, and become tenable as of 30 October 2012. 

To Apply

A complete application includes the following:

1. A cover letter (this can be the text of an e-mail message)
2. A completed Form with accompanying documentation as required in the Form. Skoll Centre Research Grants_Proposal Form 2012.doc

Submit the documents to skollcentre@sbs.ox.ac.uk by 21 September 2012.