Opportunity status:
Open
Funders:
Funding type:
Grant
Maximum award:
£950,000
Publication date:
30 March 2026
Opening date:
31 March 2026 9:00am UK time
Closing date:
Open - no closing date
Apply for funding to pursue an adventurous, ambitious, curiosity-driven project in environmental research.
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
We welcome:
* multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research
* projects delivered in partnership with other research funders and users
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £950,000. We will fund 80% of the FEC.
There is no defined project duration, but awards are usually between three and four years.
Who can apply
This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. .
Before applying for funding, check the following:
* * if you are unsure whether your proposed research falls within the remit of NERC
Who is eligible to apply
This funding opportunity is open to research groups and individuals.
Your research project must address a significant environmental science question, but we welcome applications from individuals who can demonstrate a capability to collaborate with experts from other disciplines to generate innovative research.
We:
* encourage multidisciplinary research and collaborations with other UK organisations
* welcome applications from individuals at any career stage, subject to the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) eligibility criteria
Project partners fund their own involvement. We will only fund minor incidental expenses, such as some travel costs, if needed for project partners.
Resubmissions
We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have previously been assessed by UKRI.