Objectives and potential outcome

This approach can help democratize research by increasing equity and reducing bias against early-career researchers, for example. It may also stimulate innovation in research funding and create opportunities for more novel or high-risk projects. The main drawback is that removing the applicant’s identity makes it harder to assess the feasibility of the proposed work.

Research domains

This applies specifically to project funding where research ideas are central to the assessment.

Context and considerations

This idea could be implemented by stressing with reviewers that the evaluation should be performed only on the proposed idea and related elements.

Another possible way to address this idea may be to perform a ‘blind’ review where the assessors do not know who the applicant is, but the eligibility criteria are assessed initially. In such a blind review, the focus of the evaluation can rest on any decided criteria. See the associated idea on Double Blind Peer-Review for more information.

Challenges and mitigations

Evaluating success

Relevant resources and literature

Templates from funders and institutions

Case examples and literature

The NWO has built dedicated guidance for reviewers to encourage them to keep their focus on the project, away from the individual (e.g., changed the order of the assessment form). See guidance here

Other resources

Case Studies or Implementation Examples