From 1 November 2012 the AHRC will be changing one of its requirements for Grant and Fellowship applications. This change relates to the way applicants provide information about the digital technologies or outputs associated with their proposals.
The AHRC’s ICT strategic programme identified issues regarding the sustainability and accessibility of electronic outputs funded by the AHRC. We have also had feedback from the AHRC’s moderating panels regarding the assessments of technical aspects of proposals which has prompted a review of the way AHRC captures and assesses information about the digital aspects of projects. This has included a review of the technical appendix with the aim of revising the requirements for the application form and updating the guidance for applicants. The purpose of these changes is to provide clearer guidance as to when and how detailed technical information needs to be provided, thereby reducing the number of applications which require expert technical review. For the more routine technical aspects of proposals, e.g. websites, these will be an integral part of the proposal which all reviewers will be expected to assess.
Applications submitted on or after 1st November 2012 will need to take account of the new guidance and application form requirements.
The key changes are that:
• all proposals will be required to contain additional information in the Case for Support, under a new ‘Technical Summary’ Heading.
• Applicants who identify within the Technical Summary that their proposal has digital outputs or digital technologies that are essential to their planned research outcomes will be expected to submit a technical attachment.
• The current technical appendix section of the Je-S form will be removed.
Further guidance on the technical attachment and how to complete it will be available in the AHRC Funding Guide and Je-S helptext in advance of the new requirements becoming mandatory.
A further announcement will be made when this guidance is available. In the meantime, any questions about these changes should be addressed to pso@ahrc.ac.uk