This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.

Who is eligible to apply

You can apply if you are based at an eligible UK research organisation, including:

• academic researchers of any career stage
• research and technical staff, including engineers, technicians and specialists
• multidisciplinary teams combining environmental science, engineering, robotics, data science or related disciplines

Projects should demonstrate meaningful collaboration with organisations involved in the development, deployment, or application of autonomous systems and sensing technologies.

We strongly encourage collaboration with industry and other non-academic stakeholders, participating as project partners and collaborators, where this strengthens the proposed work, in line with supporting the development and deployment of innovative technologies.

Who is not eligible to apply

You cannot apply if:

• you are not based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding as the project lead
• your organisation does not meet UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) eligibility requirements

International researchers

International researchers and organisations may participate in projects where they provide expertise, capabilities or collaborations that strengthen the proposed work.

International collaborators should be included as project partners. Funding is not available through this funding opportunity for international project co-lead costs and international organisations are expected to support their own participation.

Where an international project co-lead (international) role is included in the application, you should enter zero requested costs and describe the collaborator’s contribution to the project.

You should ensure that any international participation complies with UKRI guidance and the requirements of this funding opportunity.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity 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

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Demand management

Demand management is not currently being applied to this funding opportunity. However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity.

Aim

The aim of this funding opportunity is to strengthen the future environmental observing capability of the UK through the development, integration, deployment and demonstration of innovative autonomy, sensing, instrumentation and measurement capabilities.

A major focus of this funding opportunity is the future of atmospheric observing capability. More adaptable and sustainable emerging atmospheric science delivery models including autonomous technology are creating significant opportunities to deliver environmental science in more innovative and sustainable ways. Through this investment we aim to accelerate the transition of promising technologies into deployable capability that can support future atmospheric observations, environmental monitoring and scientific discovery.

This funding opportunity also builds on opportunities identified through the Net Zero Aerial Capability (NZArC) programme, supporting the development and deployment of autonomous aerial systems and associated capabilities across a broader range of environmental applications.

We are seeking projects that can rapidly translate existing technologies, platforms, sensors, instrumentation, measurement systems and expertise into deployable capability that delivers lasting benefit for the environmental science community.

We encourage applications from across the UK research and innovation community. We welcome teams that combine environmental science expertise with engineering, robotics, autonomy, sensing, instrumentation, software, data science, operational or commercial expertise where this strengthens the proposed capability.

Scope

Through this funding opportunity we will fund projects that develop and demonstrate:

• innovative autonomous sensing, instrumentation and measurement capabilities that advance atmospheric science (approximately 50% of funding available)
• autonomous aerial systems (UAS), sensing technologies, instrumentation and measurement systems for environmental applications (approximately 50% of funding available)

Projects may include the development, integration, deployment or demonstration of platforms, sensors, instrumentation, measurement systems, autonomy, software, data systems or combinations of these where they contribute to environmental observing capability.

Further detail is provided below.

Autonomous solutions for atmospheric science

We are interested in the future of atmospheric observing capability and the role that emerging autonomous technologies, sensing systems, instrumentation and measurement approaches can play in supporting atmospheric science.

These do not need to be based on aerial platforms.

Applications may include, but are not limited to:

• autonomous observational systems
• distributed sensing networks
• mobile or fixed monitoring platforms
• autonomous measurement approaches
• sensing technologies
• scientific instrumentation
• measurement systems and architectures
• calibration and validation approaches
• technologies that improve the collection, processing or exploitation of atmospheric data
• systems that strengthen future atmospheric observing capability.

Autonomous aerial systems for environmental applications

We are interested in the role that autonomous aerial systems, sensing technologies, instrumentation and data systems can play in supporting environmental science and environmental monitoring. Projects in this area must have UAS as a central component of the proposed approach.

Applications may include, but are not limited to:

• environmental monitoring and assessment
• ecosystem observation
• environmental forecasting and prediction
• natural hazard monitoring
• atmospheric observations
• terrestrial environments
• freshwater environments
• coastal and marine environments

Supporting technologies such as sensors, instrumentation, autonomy software, communications systems and data systems may form part of a project, provided autonomous aerial capability remains central to the proposed approach.

Projects may address one or more environmental domains.

Portfolio balance

This funding opportunity is open to both atmospheric autonomy and wider environmental applications of UAS. Subject to the number and quality of applications received, we expect that approximately 50% of funding will support projects addressing atmospheric science capability and approximately 50% will support wider environmental applications.

Projects may contribute to one or both areas and are not required to align exclusively with a single category.

Funding recommendations will take account of both project quality and overall portfolio balance.

What we are looking for

We are seeking projects that create lasting benefit for environmental science through the development, integration, deployment or demonstration of autonomous environmental observing capability.

We are particularly interested in projects that:

• deliver deployable demonstrator capability within the project timescale
• generate high-quality environmental observations, measurements, data products or services
• strengthen future atmospheric observing capability, wider environmental observing capability, or both
• integrate existing technologies, platforms, sensors, instrumentation or measurement approaches in innovative and useful ways
• improve calibration, validation, data quality assurance, or understanding of measurement uncertainty and bias
• demonstrate how autonomous technologies can enable new environmental science capability, insight or application
• create capability that can be used, accessed, adopted or built upon beyond the lifetime of the project
• demonstrate pathways towards wider deployment, adoption, application or commercialisation where appropriate
• bring together the expertise, partnerships and stakeholder engagement required to successfully deliver the proposed capability

Deliverability and rapid mobilisation

Projects are expected to be both innovative and deliverable within the constraints of an accelerated programme timetable.

You should clearly demonstrate:

• access to the facilities, platforms, sensors, instrumentation, infrastructure, data systems and other resources required to deliver the project
• appropriate operational partnerships and collaborations
• institutional support for rapid project initiation
• realistic and credible plans for deployment and delivery
• appropriate plans for calibration, validation and data quality assurance where relevant
• a credible plan to mobilise rapidly and commence project activity immediately following award

Given the accelerated nature of this funding opportunity, projects must be capable of mobilising rapidly following award and commence activity immediately upon project start. You should ensure that your proposed approach, partnerships, procurement arrangements and delivery plans are compatible with rapid project initiation and early delivery and the commitment of a substantial proportion of project expenditure through major procurement or investment activity occurring immediately following project start.

You should clearly identify any significant dependencies associated with procurement, recruitment, regulatory approvals, access arrangements, specialist equipment or facilities, and explain how these will be managed.

Successful projects will be required to provide evidence of mobilisation, progress and delivery against agreed milestones during the lifetime of the award.

Working with others

This funding opportunity has been developed with input from across UKRI, including Innovate UK. Projects should demonstrate meaningful partnerships, collaborations and stakeholder engagement with organisations involved in the development, deployment, or application of autonomous systems and sensing technologies, in order to successfully deliver the proposed capability.

We particularly encourage applications that bring together expertise from across the wider research and innovation community, including environmental science, engineering, robotics, autonomy, sensing, instrumentation, software, data science, operational, commercial and user communities, where this strengthens project delivery, deployment, adoption or future impact.

You should demonstrate that the expertise, partnerships and stakeholder engagement proposed are appropriate for delivering the intended outcomes. While industry participation is not a requirement for eligibility, we strongly encourage collaboration with industry and other non-academic stakeholders, participating as project partners and collaborators, where this strengthens the proposed work, in line with supporting the development and deployment of innovative technologies.

Duration

Projects must be able to start by 1 February 2027.

Projects may be between three and 12 months in duration. You should propose a duration that is appropriate for the scale and objectives of the work. Shorter projects may be appropriate where they can rapidly deliver demonstrator capability or address a focused technical challenge.

Applications should be based on capabilities, partnerships and delivery plans that are already sufficiently developed to support immediate mobilisation. You should clearly identify any significant dependencies that could affect delivery, including procurement, recruitment, regulatory approvals, access arrangements or availability of specialist equipment and facilities.

Funding available

NERC will fund 100% of the FEC.

The total funding available through this funding opportunity is £4 million.

Funding decisions will be made through a competitive assessment process and will take account of both project quality and overall portfolio balance. We expect to fund a portfolio of projects of varying scale and duration, to achieve a balance of projects across the funding opportunity scope.

Capital expenditure and asset development

This funding opportunity supports the development, integration, deployment and demonstration of environmental observing capability and may include the creation, enhancement or integration of capital assets where these are required to deliver the project objectives.

Projects may request funding for costs directly associated with the development, integration, testing and validation of capital assets, including physical instruments, sensing technologies, platforms, software and data systems.

Examples of eligible costs may include:

• equipment and component costs directly associated with capability development
• integration, installation, testing, benchmarking and validation activities
• technical staff effort directly associated with capability development
• software, digital and data system development that contributes to the creation of new capability
• activities required to bring an asset or capability into a usable operational state

You should clearly explain how requested costs contribute to the development, integration, deployment or demonstration of capability.

Supporting skills and talent

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

We particularly encourage the involvement of research technical professionals, engineers, technologists and other specialist staff where they contribute to the development, deployment or operation of environmental observing capability.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where you can find additional support.

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service, so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

Before applying, we encourage you to attend the webinar for potential applicants. See further details, including registration information, in the ‘Additional information’ section.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page:

1. Confirm you are the project lead.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
• insert each new image on a new line
• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text
• tables
• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service
• how research offices use the Funding Service
• how reviewers use the Funding Service

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

References

References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors
• references are formatted as appropriate to your research
• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

NERC must receive your application by 21 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data Processing personal data

NERC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email capitalrequirements@nerc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
• declaration of interest
• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Institutional matched funding

There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.

This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.

Publication of outcomes

NERC, as part of UKRI, may publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on What NERC has funded.

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary of your proposed project. This summary will be used to help identify the most appropriate assessors for your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers
• policymakers
• the public
• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• the challenge or opportunity being addressed
• the aims and objectives of the project
• the capability, technology or demonstrator being developed, integrated, deployed or demonstrated
• the expected environmental, scientific, operational, societal or economic benefits
• how the proposed work contributes to the aims of this funding opportunity

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)
• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
• project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))
• specialist
• grant manager
• professional enabling staff
• research and innovation associate
• technician
• visiting researcher
• researcher co-lead (RcL)

Only list one individual as project lead.

Participating organisations not eligible to be included within the project team, including industry and other non-academic stakeholders, should be included within the application as a project partners and collaborators. See the ‘Project partners’ section for more details.

UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions Vision

Word limit: 500

What are you hoping to achieve with the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how the proposed capability will:

• be timely, given current trends and context
• address a clearly identified environmental challenge, opportunity or capability gap
• support atmospheric observing, wider environmental applications, or both
• deliver demonstrator capability, environmental observations, data, products or services that create lasting value beyond the project
• meet the evidenced needs of clearly identified user groups
• support future adoption, deployment, application or scale-up where appropriate
• strengthen environmental observing capability through the development, integration, deployment or demonstration of autonomy, sensing, instrumentation, measurement systems, platforms or data systems
• enhance, benefit or complement the existing environmental observing landscape
• contribute to the aims of this funding opportunity

Where relevant, explain:

• how the proposed work could improve the quality, coverage, reliability, accessibility or utility of environmental observations and data
• the anticipated environmental, societal, scientific or economic benefits arising from the proposed capability
• the consequences of not delivering the proposed capability

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Approach

Word limit: 2,500

What are your plans to manage and deliver the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

We expect you to show how your approach:

• will develop, integrate, deploy or demonstrate the proposed capability
• is effective and appropriate to achieve the intended objectives and outcomes
• provides a credible route to demonstrator capability within the project timescale
• includes an appropriate project plan, milestones, deliverables and success measures
• includes appropriate plans for monitoring progress, tracking delivery and evidencing intended outcomes and benefits
• identifies key risks, dependencies and assumptions, and explains how these will be managed
• demonstrates an appropriate level of technical, operational and procurement readiness to support rapid mobilisation following award
• demonstrates that the proposed capability is sufficiently mature to support delivery of demonstrator capability within the available time and budget
• includes realistic plans for deployment, testing, validation or operational demonstration, as appropriate
• explains how environmental observations, measurements, data products or services will be generated, enhanced or enabled
• demonstrates how environmental data quality and confidence will be supported, including calibration, validation, uncertainty and bias considerations where relevant
• makes appropriate use of partnerships, facilities, infrastructure, equipment, platforms, datasets and other resources required for delivery
• includes arrangements for governance, project management and decision making appropriate to the scale and complexity of the work
• considers how the capability will be sustained, accessed, adopted, expanded or built upon beyond the funded period where appropriate
• incorporates accessibility and inclusiveness into the design and delivery of the project

Where relevant, explain how:

• the proposed capability will integrate with existing environmental observing systems, networks, platforms or infrastructure
• the proposed work may contribute to atmospheric observing capability, wider environmental applications, or both
• environmental science, engineering, sensing, instrumentation, autonomy, operational or user expertise will be combined to strengthen delivery

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual or team to deliver and manage the proposed infrastructure?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage)
• the right balance of skills and expertise
• the appropriate leadership and management skills and your approach to develop others
• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
• experience relevant to the development, integration, deployment, operation or management of environmental observing capability
• experience of delivering complex multidisciplinary projects, collaborations or demonstrators
• access to the scientific, technical, operational and delivery expertise required to achieve the proposed objectives
• appropriate expertise in environmental science, autonomy, sensing, instrumentation, measurement systems, engineering, software, data systems or operational delivery, as relevant to the proposed work
• experience of working with users, operators, industry, policymakers or other stakeholders where relevant to the proposed capability

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

The word limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you, and if relevant, your team (project lead and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on), have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed below. You should use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
• contributions to the wider research and innovation community
• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project
• the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, while minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm
• how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project

Where relevant, consider:

• the deployment and operation of autonomous systems in environmental settings
• environmental impacts associated with deployment activities
• data acquisition, management, access, sharing and stewardship
• security, privacy or misuse considerations associated with sensors, platforms, data systems or autonomous technologies
• the implications of environmental observations or data products for users, stakeholders and affected communities

If you are collecting or using data you should identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data)
• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with

Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:

• animals
• human participants
• genetically modified organisms

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.

Animal involvement and “3Rs”

You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.

If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what animals you are involving
• the severity of the procedures you are using
• where the procedures will take place
• welfare standards you aim to meet
• the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs

You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.

To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals.

What counts as an animal

UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.

Genetically modified organisms and biological risk

You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.

If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include
• the intended use of the organism or genetic technology
• the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.

Human participation in health-related research

You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.

If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what type of human participation your project includes
• the project design for human participation
• the phase of the clinical trial
• whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so, how the project will be registered
• whether diversity and inclusion will be considered

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 1,000

What will you need to deliver and manage the proposed infrastructure and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:

• project staff
• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
• equipment, instrumentation, sensing technologies, software and other capability development costs
• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
• all facilities and infrastructure costs
• if applicable, disposal or decommissioning costs
• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’
• if applicable, subscription costs

You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the demonstrator capability
• maximise potential environmental, scientific, operational or societal benefits arising from the investment
• represent good value for money

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project, or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.

Add the following project partner details:

• the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
• the project partner contact name and email address
• the type of contribution (direct or indirect) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

Assessors will consider the extent to which project partners contribute meaningfully to the successful development, integration, deployment, demonstration, adoption or future use of the proposed capability.

Project partners may contribute:

• technical expertise
• operational expertise
• facilities, infrastructure or specialist equipment
• access to platforms, systems, environments or datasets
• routes to deployment, adoption, impact or commercialisation
• direct or indirect financial support

Applications are not required to include industry partners. However, you should demonstrate that the expertise, partnerships and stakeholder engagement proposed are appropriate for delivering the intended outcomes.

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 500

How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.

Facilities

Word limit: 250

Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you will need to use a facility, follow your proposed facility’s normal access request procedures. Ensure you have prior agreement so that if you are offered funding, they will support the use of their facility on your project.

For each requested facility you will need to provide the:

• name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 42KB)
• proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list
• confirmation you have their agreement where required

Facilities should only be named if they are on the facility information list above. If you will not need to use a facility, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.

Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.

You will be asked about:

• which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to
• who you intend to collaborate with and how
• if your project requires an export control licence

Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

Applications will first undergo eligibility and administrative checks undertaken by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Eligible applications will be assessed by an expert assessment panel with relevant expertise across environmental science, atmospheric science, autonomy, sensing, instrumentation, engineering and environmental applications. Applications will be allocated to panel members for assessment. The assessment panel chair will oversee the assessment process and support consistency across applications and assessment areas.

The assessment panel will consider applications before making funding recommendations to NERC.

The final funding decision for this funding opportunity will adopt a portfolio approach to select a diverse range of projects in accordance with How we make decisions; balancing in such a way that is appropriate to the funding opportunity aims, including the desire to support a balanced portfolio across atmospheric science capability and wider environmental applications.

NERC will make the final funding decision.

If the number of applications received is significantly higher than anticipated and exceeds the capacity of the assessment process, NERC reserves the right to apply a shortlisting stage prior to full assessment. Any such changes will be applied consistently and in accordance with the published requirements within the ‘Scope’ section.

For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions.

Timescale

We aim to complete the assessment process within three months of receiving your application.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Generative AI may be used only for the purpose of language refinement during application assessment. When using generative AI to refine the language of a review, expert reviewers and panellists must ensure that:

• no part of the application being assessed is entered into a generative AI tool
• no personal information from the application is disclosed
• generative AI is not tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the application’s content

Expert reviewers and panellists must also:

• comply with relevant intellectual property and data protection legislation
• not take into account or speculate within their assessment whether generative AI has been used to develop the application

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• vision
• approach
• applicant and team capability to deliver
• ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
• project partners

Assessment will include consideration of deliverability, readiness and alignment with the requirements of the funding opportunity through the published assessment criteria.

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

The helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For help and advice on costings and writing your application please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity please contact capitalrequirements@nerc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries more efficiently, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Webinar for potential applicants

We will hold a webinar on 10 September 2026 at 2:00pm UK time. This will provide more information about the funding opportunity and a chance to ask questions.

Register for the webinar

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays
• disruptive working patterns and conditions
• the loss of ongoing work
• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant and their wider team to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.