To identify the issues and make recommendations for improving processes we need to include people involved at each stage. We held an ‘Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in pre-award funding processes’ symposium on 18 and 19 January, facilitated by MoreBrains Cooperative. The two day event was structured to develop the themes and priorities that emerged from two online workshops held in September and November 2022.

We welcomed attendees from across the country from institutions in all areas of the pre-award funding process with funders such as Wellcome, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and Cancer Research UK, along with research managers and researchers from over 20 different universities. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear views and ideas from such a wide range of engaged and enthusiastic delegates. The sessions provided space for attendees to share their own findings and experience of the funding application process, and to deepen the shared understanding of how mechanisms of exclusion currently operate through the pre-award process.

The aim of the symposium was not just to highlight the varied problems and issues in the pre-award processes but to look for ways that these issues could be resolved by working together across multiple disciplines. We wanted to showcase good practice in tackling these issues where it is available, and to propose new concrete actions that should be taken to improve transparency and EDI in funding application processes. As one participant explained: “It was a pleasure to be able to discuss with colleagues face to face such important issues and to hear about some of the fantastic work which has already taken place.”

The discussions were lively, with many useful suggestions put forward from major institutional changes to ‘small wins’ that everyone could start to implement. One attendee told us that they “came away energised and buzzing with ideas of how to start to make some small changes whilst we work together as a sector to tackle some of the more entrenched issues. It felt like we had some real momentum for change, and I really hope we are able to push forward in our collective efforts to even the playing field and increase diversity in research.”

Following the symposium, there will be a webinar held in February 2023 to allow everyone who was unable to attend the in-person event to hear about the discussions and outcomes. We will also be producing a finalised work flow diagram to illustrate the processes and procedures involved in preparing a funding application which will show any filtration points, ‘gatekeepers’, or any other barriers to funding. There will also be a policy paper produced by the end of March 2023 which will focus on the key conclusions, questions, opportunities and other findings.