The Spotlight welcomes interdisciplinary project ideas addressing defence, security and societal resilience through social-science, economic, legal, behavioural, historical, data-science and public-policy perspectives.
Scope
In-scope topics may include, but are not limited to:
- AI and autonomous systems
- Geopolitics, alliances and the changing international order
- Hybrid threats and democratic resilience
- Defence economics and industrial strategy
- Economic security and critical infrastructure
- Climate change, strategic resources and the changing security environment
- Workforce and whole-of-society readiness
- Law, ethics and accountability in defence and security
Projects may support, evaluate or critically examine defence and security policies, institutions and technologies.
We particularly welcome pilot research which is likely to result in applications for external funding relating to aspects of defence and encourage applicants to explain how their projects are likely to result in such applications.
How to apply
The Defence Spotlight Theme is embedded across the next round of the following internal funding schemes (deadline: Friday 9 October 2026, 5pm GMT). Applicants are encouraged to read the specific focus of each scheme to determine the best fit for their project.
If you plan to apply under this spotlight theme, please indicate in the application form that you are applying to the ‘Spotlight Theme’ rather than the ‘Open’ call and include a brief justification.
All spotlight theme applications will follow the existing assessment criteria and peer review process applicable to each of the internal funding schemes, as listed below.
Support
If you are considering applying, please contact the relevant team (listed below) as early as possible for support before submitting your proposal:
General queries, feedback and comments on this spotlight call can be sent to ri.internalschemes@lse.ac.uk.