Challenge Us! – Co-Creating Research for Societal Change

The Open University’s (OU) Challenge Us! competition formed part of the pioneering Open Societal Challenges (OSC) programme, which represents a step-change in how research partnerships with charities are forged. As the first initiative of its kind in the UK higher education sector, Challenge Us! invited civil society organisations to pose pressing societal research questions. The OU then co-designed and co-delivers interdisciplinary research projects to address them, removing barriers to academic collaboration and amplifying community voice in research.

Launched in 2024, Challenge Us! has already supported 25 groundbreaking projects in areas such as early dementia detection, community-led green infrastructure, strengths-based developmental approaches for autistic children, and foodbank usage. The competition catalysed new ways of working, with over 70 new partners engaged, including grassroots charities, SMEs, and national networks. It has already led to formal recognition in the Scottish Parliament and is informing national models for community-led research.

This breakthrough democratises access to academic research, empowering small organisations and charities to influence and benefit from high-quality research. By reshaping research boundaries, Challenge Us! delivers equitable partnerships, innovative outputs, and real-world impact. It is a scalable, inclusive model for embedding academic expertise where it matters most — alongside the communities striving for societal change.