The NPCC and UKRI are funding the creation of up to nine Policing Academic Centres of Excellence (P-ACEs) to help improve connections between policing and academic researchers, and bring to policing the best research evidence, science, and technologies that the UK has to offer.

P-ACEs will bring together academic researchers with relevant expertise and connect them directly with policing stakeholders. The NPCC and UKRI Policing Academic Centre of Excellence status will be a prestigious recognition of the specialisms and expertise of an academic group, which will be promoted across the policing sector as an accessible source of leading academic expertise. 

• Half of the available funding will be for the supporting scientific leadership and administration of a P-ACE, and activities that will synthesise, make accessible and disseminate the existing work of those involved in the P-ACE.
• The remaining half of the funding should be ringfenced and used as a flexible fund to support new activities developed during the funding period through engagement with policing. 

This opportunity will be open to UK based researchers at research organisations eligible to receive ESRC funding. The maximum total value of this opportunity is £5.4 million, with each P-ACE having a maximum total funding of £600,000. The NPCC and UKRI are contributing 80% towards the total value of the fund, valued at £4.5 million. Awards will run for three years and projects must start by 1 April 2025.

An online webinar to clarify the funding opportunity will take place on Wednesday October 16^th 10:00-11.00am

This opportunity is now live and will close on 3^rd December 2024. 

For more information about the fund, and to sign up to the webinar, visit: Apply to be recognised as a Policing Academic Centre of Excellence – UKRI