# Design Generators

**Funder:** AHRC
**Budget:** £120k–£160k (80% of £150k–£200k FEC)
**Deadline:** 29 September 2026 (4:00pm UK time)
**Duration:** 9–12 months
**Consortium:** Required — at least one non-academic co-lead (business, public sector, third sector, civil society or community organisation); non-academic co-lead costs must not exceed 30% of total funds requested
**Application:** Single stage
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/design-generators-round-two/
**Last verified:** 29 July 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Round 2 of Design Generators funds design-led research contributing to the green transition, focusing on interventions within existing systems (healthcare, food networks, governance, etc.). UK-based organisations only; international researchers, activities, and stakeholders are ineligible. At least 50% of disciplinary focus must fall within AHRC remit. Projects must start by 1 February 2027. Resubmissions from round one are not accepted.

## Summary

AHRC Design Generators (Round 2) funds design-led research contributing to the green transition through interventions in existing systems like healthcare, food networks, and governance. The call awards £120k-£160k (80% of £150k-£200k full economic cost) over 9-12 months and requires a consortium with at least one non-academic co-lead from business, public sector, third sector, civil society, or community organisations. UK-based organisations only; international activities and researchers are ineligible.

## Who should apply

- UK-based design researchers and academics leading consortium partnerships
- Projects addressing green transition within existing systems (healthcare, food networks, governance, urban planning, etc.)
- Applications with design as ≥50% of the disciplinary remit
- Consortia with at least one non-academic partner (business, public sector, third sector, civil society, or community organisation)
- Teams not submitting a resubmission from round one

## Key dates

- Deadline: 29 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time
- Single-stage application and assessment
- Project duration: 9-12 months

## Tips for applicants

- The non-academic co-lead is mandatory and should bring delivery credibility; include a named partner with demonstrated capacity in the relevant system (e.g. a healthcare trust, food network coordinator, or local authority for governance work).
- Design interventions must target existing systems; proposals that aim to create new systems or solely generate theory score weaker against the green transition remit.
- Resubmissions from round one are ineligible; if your round one proposal was rejected, this call requires a substantially different research question or scope, not a revised version of the same project.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does AHRC Design Generators award?

£120k-£160k (80% of £150k-£200k full economic cost) per project.

### Who must be part of an AHRC Design Generators consortium?

At least one non-academic co-lead from business, public sector, third sector, civil society, or community organisations is mandatory; all consortium members must be UK-based.

### Can international researchers apply to AHRC Design Generators?

No; the call is restricted to UK-based organisations, and international researchers, activities, and stakeholders are explicitly ineligible.

### What is the deadline for AHRC Design Generators round 2?

29 September 2026 at 4:00pm UK time, single-stage submission.

### Can I resubmit a proposal from AHRC Design Generators round one?

No; resubmissions from round one are not permitted for round two.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/ahrc-design-generators-2026-09) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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