FCA launches competition to fund research on growth, competitiveness and regulation

The FCA is launching its first competition to fund research into how regulation can support national growth. This follows a review of recent literature which found significant gaps in the available research.

The competition will award funding for several research projects focused on growth, competitiveness and regulation in the UK financial services sector.

Applicants should submit research proposals that focus on areas the FCA can influence, such as growth and productivity of the UK financial services sector, international competitiveness of the UK financial services sector, and supporting the UK’s economy and considering regulatory impacts.

The FCA will award each winner up to £30,000 to help complete their research proposal.

Applications close at 11.59pm on Sunday 15 December and a panel of judges will then select the winning proposals by 22 December 2024. The winners will have until 31 March 2025 to complete their research.

The panel of judges include Kate Collyer, FCA chief economist; professor Julia Black, president of the British Academy and external member of the PRA; Dr Felix Martin, chair of the FCA CBA panel; and Dr Tim Leunig, visiting professor in practice at LSE.

Kate Collyer, chief economist at the FCA, said: "We recently reviewed what research had been done into the role regulation can play in supporting growth and competitiveness, and we found the pool was a mile wide and an inch deep.

"We want to hear from you on how we can fill these gaps and how your research ideas can help us drive real world change. We will fund the very best ideas that help us to achieve these goals."