Opportunity status:
Open
Funders:
Funding type:
Grant
Total fund:
£4,800,000
Award range:
£200,000 - £400,000
Publication date:
26 September 2025
Opening date:
3 October 2025 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
11 December 2025 4:00pm UK time
Last updated: 9 October 2025 -
Apply for funding to use artificial intelligence (AI) and data science in new ways to address complex environmental challenges. We’re seeking bold, innovative ideas with the potential to shape the future of environmental science.
You must be:
* based at a UK research organisation eligible for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding
* in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be between £200,000 and £400,000. We will fund 80% of the FEC.
Projects must start on 1 July 2026 and last for eighteen months. This is the first of a two-phased programme.
Before applying for funding, check the following:
* *
To lead a project, you must be based at an eligible organisation. .
Who is eligible to apply
This funding opportunity is open to research groups and individuals. We:
* encourage multidisciplinary research and collaborations with other UK organisations
* welcome applications from individuals at any career stage, subject to NERC eligibility criteria
Who is not eligible to apply
You may be involved in no more than two applications submitted to this funding opportunity. Only one of these can be as project lead.
We will accept no more than four applications to this funding opportunity as lead organisation, that is the organisation submitting the application through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service. Due to the high level of interest anticipated for the investment available, we are trialling this approach to manage the impact on the community in assessing the applications.
The research organisation should have a process to ensure that no more than four applications are submitted. Research organisations are asked to actively use an inclusive approach to selecting and maximising the diversity of the applicants they intend to support. UKRI expects that host organisations consider diversity broadly to include backgrounds, career paths, thought and approach as well as protected characteristics.
Project partners fund their own involvement. We will only fund minor incidental expenses, such as some travel costs, if needed for project partners.
International researchers
As our research council (NERC) is the lead funder for this funding opportunity, international researchers can apply as ‘project co-lead (international)’, subject to the eligibility criteria set out in the .
We do not fund overseas organisations, except for specific costs for project co-leads from Norway and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).
You should include all other international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners. This includes organisations from the business or financial sectors.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
* career breaks
* support for people with caring responsibilities
* flexible working
* alternative working patterns
for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.