Metascience Novelty Indicators Challenge
The Metascience Novelty Indicators Challenge is a global initiative to develop and validate scalable indicators that can identify novelty in research. We are challenging academics, data scientists, researchers, and innovators worldwide to create tools that could reshape how we evaluate novelty and thereby support metascience progress.
The Metascience Novelty Indicators Challenge invites individuals or teams who can generate novelty scores for journal publications across a wide range of disciplines.
This is a global challenge to transform how we measure novelty in research and entry is now closed.
The winner will receive a £300,000 grant to develop or commercialise their winning solution further.
Entry to The Metascience Novelty Indicators Challenge was open to individuals and teams who have already developed novelty indicators, or who possess the capability to deliver a fully working scalable indicator by 2 February 2026 (extended to 16 February 2026). Anyone with a smart idea and the technical skills required could enter, especially:
- A university team studying metascience and novelty in research
- Postgraduates, PhD candidates and students with relevant experience
- Data scientists and researchers working in bibliometrics, scientometrics, science of science, research on research, metascience, or related fields
- Industry practitioners, non-profit research experts, or commercial entities with expertise in research analytics
The deadline to become a challenger closed on 3 November 2025. Entrants will be informed on the outcome of their Expression of Interest (EOI) in mid-November.
Challengers will have until 23:59 (GMT) on 2 February 2026 (extended to 16 February 2026) to develop and refine their indicators.
As a challenger, you will contribute to the advancement of metascience, specifically in research assessment and novelty measurement, and connect with leading researchers in metascience and bibliometrics.
The winning team will be informed in March 2026, and receive the £300,000 grand prize, along with partnership opportunities to advance their new indicator and the opportunity to contribute to a peer-reviewed publication reporting the various indicators used in the challenge. The challenge results will be publicly announced in April 2026.
Who is involved?
The Metascience Novelty Indicators Challenge is a collaborative effort launched by the UK Metascience Unit (UKRI) with the support of Elsevier. Its design and implementation were supported by SPRU and RAND Europe, and it is being delivered by Challenge Works, a Nesta enterprise. Coefficient Giving will be providing the £300,000 prize to the selected winner through Challenge Works.
