Shape Tomorrow Together
The challenges facing society are too complex for any one discipline, organisation or community to solve alone.
Connect, Co-Design, and Pitch brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, businesses, community organisations and people with lived experience to explore shared challenges and develop collaborative opportunities. Through a series of facilitated workshops, participants build new relationships, learn from different perspectives and shape ideas that could lead to future research, innovation and real-world change.
No project idea is required. Just curiosity, collaboration and a willingness to explore challenges with others.
Our challenge areas
Together, we'll explore some of the most pressing challenges facing society today. Participants will work around priority challenge questions linked to four challenge areas:
- Ethical AI and responsible digital societies
- Addressing health inequalities
- Polarisation, trust and social cohesion
- Migration, mobility and belonging
Each challenge area includes both Grassroots and Blue Sky pathways, creating opportunities to explore challenges at different scales and from different perspectives. Explore our challenge areas.
Choose your pathway
Both pathways follow the same Connect, Co-Design, and Pitch journey, but focus on challenges at different scales.
Grassroots Pathway
Creating change close to home
Focused on local and regional challenges affecting communities, organisations and places. Work alongside others to explore shared challenges and co-design opportunities for meaningful change.
| Stage | Date |
| Connect | Tuesday 12 January 2027 |
| Co-Design | Tuesday 16 March 2027 |
| Pitch | Week of 17 May 2027 |
Blue Sky Pathway
Exploring future possibilities
Focused on ambitious national and international challenges. Work across sectors and disciplines to develop bold ideas, new partnerships and opportunities with the potential for wider societal impact.
| Stage | Date |
| Connect | Thursday 14 January 2027 |
| Co-Design | Thursday 18 March 2027 |
| Pitch | Week of 17 May 2027 |
How we'll work together
The programme is grounded in co-production, recognising that research knowledge, professional expertise and lived experience all have an important role to play in understanding and addressing societal challenges. Learn more about our co-production approach.
Sessions are facilitated using a coaching approach and a range of creative methods designed to encourage new ways of thinking, help participants learn from one another and support the development of tangible opportunities.
Where we'll meet
Connect and Co-Design will take place at an off-campus venue in Leeds. By bringing participants together in a neutral setting, we aim to create an environment that supports creativity, collaboration and the equal valuing of different forms of expertise.
Pitch will take place on the University of Leeds campus, where teams will pitch their ideas to a panel to access funding and support to help bring them to life.
Bring your expertise to the challenge
We're looking for curious and collaborative people who want to help address complex societal challenges. Whether you bring research expertise, professional experience or lived experience, your perspective matters.
The programme is open to:
- University of Leeds staff
- People working across the public, private, voluntary and community sectors
- Individuals with relevant lived experience of the challenges being explored
We ask participants to:
- Attend all programme sessions
- Engage openly in collaborative and challenge-led working
- Contribute their knowledge, expertise and experiences
- Work constructively with people from different backgrounds and perspectives
No project idea is required. We encourage participants to arrive with curiosity rather than solutions. Ideas and opportunities will be developed collaboratively throughout the programme.
Information webinar
Interested in learning more?
Join our online information webinar to hear more about the programme, the challenge areas, what participation involves and how to apply. It will be recorded and a link will be shared afterwards.
Date: 4 November 2026
Time: 14:00 - 15:00 GMT
Interested in taking part?
The Expression of Interest form for Connect, Co-Design and Pitch will be available after our webinar on 4 November 2026.
To stay informed:
- Sign up to our mailing list to receive application updates.
- Register for the webinar (link above) to learn more about the programme and receive the joining link automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applying and Eligibility
Do I need a project idea before applying?
No. The programme is designed around challenge-led collaboration. Participants join because they are interested in a challenge area and want to contribute their expertise, experience or perspectives. Ideas and opportunities are developed together throughout the programme.
Can I take part if I am not from a university?
Absolutely. We welcome participants from community organisations, charities, businesses, public sector organisations, policymaking bodies and people with lived experience, alongside researchers. Bringing together different forms of expertise is central to the programme.
Do I need an academic collaborator?
Not to apply. However, projects progressing towards research funding will normally require University involvement. If you do not already have an academic collaborator, the Leeds Institute for Societal Futures team can help connect you with potential partners.
What kinds of projects are you looking for?
You do not need a project idea before applying. Opportunities are developed collaboratively throughout the programme and pitched at the final stage.
We are particularly interested in challenge-led opportunities that bring together different perspectives, sectors and forms of expertise. Projects should involve, or have the potential to develop into future research, innovation or knowledge exchange activity.
For examples of the kinds of opportunities we support, see our current funded projects.
What do you mean by research?
Research is about generating new knowledge, insights or understanding that can help address a challenge or inform future action. This might involve exploring an issue, gathering evidence, testing ideas, developing new approaches or learning from different perspectives and experiences.
We take a broad view of research, including activities that help build new knowledge and inform future research, innovation, policy or practice. You do not need a fully developed research proposal before applying.
Taking Part
Do I need to attend all three programme days?
Yes. Connect, Co-Design and Pitch are designed as a connected journey, with each stage building on the previous one. Participants are expected to commit to the full programme.
How do I choose between Grassroots and Blue Sky Pathways?
Grassroots focuses on local and regional challenges affecting communities, organisations and places. Blue Sky focuses on ambitious national and international challenges that require new thinking and new partnerships. If you're unsure which pathway is right for you, we'd be happy to help, just contact [email protected].
How much time should I expect to commit?
Participants should plan to attend both programme days and spend some additional time between sessions working with collaborators to develop ideas and opportunities.
Is this a networking event?
Not in the traditional sense. Participants learn through doing, collaborating and co-producing ideas with others around real-world challenges. The programme uses coaching techniques, creative methods and structured activities to encourage new ways of thinking and help teams develop tangible opportunities together.
What if I have accessibility requirements?
Please let us know when registering or contact the team in advance. We will work with participants wherever possible to support meaningful and accessible participation.
Funding and Next Steps
Is funding available?
Yes. At the Pitch stage, teams will have the opportunity to present ideas for consideration through the programme's seed funding opportunities. Teams may also be supported to access wider research, innovation and partnership development pathways.
Will external participants be paid for their time?
Eligible external participants may be able to access remuneration in line with the programme's remuneration policy. Further details will be provided during registration.
What support is available to teams?
Participants can access support such as coaching, critical friend reviews, partnership development support and advice on progressing opportunities beyond the programme.
What happens after the programme?
The programme is intended to be the start of a journey rather than the end. Successful teams may receive funding and ongoing support, while all participants leave with new connections, insights and opportunities to continue developing partnerships and ideas beyond the workshops.