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Research funding and collaborative research
Research funding supports innovative academic research to advance the science, theory and practice of project and programme management for the public benefit.
APM offers two main types of research funding: the Research Fund and Commissioned Research. The Research Fund has an annual call and typically funds one-year research studies targeting early-career professionals.
Our commissioned research has a larger budget, providing funding for large-scale studies targeting specific themes. Our call for Academic Commissioned Research is now open. We are currently inviting applications for research funding, with a total budget of £50,000. We welcome proposals from academics, practitioners, think tanks and other organisations that can address this year’s selected themes through innovative approaches. Funding requests at different levels are encouraged.
Please read more about this opportunity below and apply using the correct format.
We look forward to receiving your proposals.
APM Academic Commissioned Research
Association for Project Management is currently inviting applications for research funding, with a total budget of £50,000. We welcome proposals from academics and practitioners who can address the selected themes below. Proposals requesting funding at various levels are welcome – the pot of £50,000 can be split between multiple projects so pitch for however much you believe you will need to complete your study. There is no fixed number of proposals to be selected; decisions will be made based on the quality, potential impact and alignment with this year’s themes.
Level of funding available
The total available budget for this call is £50,000.
What should the proposal contain and what themes should it address?
Our Commissioned Research this year will be focusing on the following themes:
- The Politics of Projects
We would like to explore how power, influence, and negotiation impact project planning, execution and delivery. The proposal should examine the role of political dynamics (e.g. stakeholder interests), in shaping project decisions and success. Proposals should address these influences and suggest innovative management approaches for navigating competing interests.
- The Role of the Sponsor
This proposal should examine the responsibilities and impact of project sponsors in guiding projects. We seek proposals on how sponsors influence success through strategic vision, resource allocation and stakeholder engagement. You can explore their roles in decision-making, risk management and aligning project objectives with organisational goals. The proposal should analyse how effective sponsorship enhances outcomes and best practices for maximising effectiveness.
- Project Leadership
The proposal should focus on the project manager’s role in leading and inspiring teams. We seek to fund studies on how effective leadership practices, such as communication, motivation, and decision-making, drive success. We would like to analyse how project managers influence team dynamics, manage conflicts and align projects with organisational goals.
Important dates
Monday 11 November 2024
Submission details
Full details, including how to apply, assessment criteria, and deadlines, can be found in the Commissioned research guidelines, please use the Research proposal template to make your submission.
Please email your completed Research proposal template and CV to research@apm.org.uk with the subject line “APM Academic Commissioned Research 2024”.
APM Academic Commissioned Research - Call for applications
Applications for APM’s Commissioned Research are now open. Please check the commissioned research guidelines below and use the research proposal template to submit your application.
APM Research Fund
This year, APM's Research Fund is dedicated to fostering the inclusion of early-career professionals, providing seed funding and support for small-scale research projects. Our focus is on empowering early-career researchers.
Future calls will be announced on this website.
2024 selected Research Fund proposals:
Navigating AI in Project Management: Dual Impacts on Managerial Well-Being
- Dr. Xiangming (Tommy) Tao, University of Sussex
Big Data-driven Stakeholder Engagement in a Dynamic and Complex Environment of Mega Infrastructure Projects
- Jin Xue, Lecturer, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Weiting Hong, Postdoctoral fellow, The University of Sydney, Australia
- Qiancheng Wang, PhD candidate, The University of Cambridge, UK
- Yunping Liang, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, USA
- Jennifer Whyte, Professor, The University of Sydney, Australia
Read more about this year’s selected proposals on our Current Research page.