Grants

The DAFNI Programme is excited to announce the launch of our new fellowship programme, which will start from April 2026.
Each fellow will become an ambassador for DAFNI, including:
being involved in sustainable research promotion of your research building networks across government, industry and academia inputting into DAFNI’s Roadmap You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding.
This funding will run from April 2026 to June 2027.
Find out more about the DAFNI Fellowship.

Apply for funding to undertake a PhD.
Your research can focus on any area of Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit to improve human health.
You must:
be a registered healthcare professional be at an appropriate point in your training to undertake a PhD show plans to pursue a research career We will fund your salary and project costs for three years. We will fund 100% of the justified costs.
You may also choose to apply for joint funding from one of the collaborating organisations.
This is an ongoing funding opportunity. Application rounds close every January, April and September.

Apply for an early independence fellowship to support your career transition within the new Fellowship investment framework if your research focus is within Medical Research Council (MRC) remit.
You must:
be a registered healthcare professional have a PhD or equivalent show evidence of career consolidation and past productivity show clear plans for establishing your own research niche that enables a step-change towards independence We will fund your salary and project costs (80% of the full economic cost) up to five years (pro-rata for part-time fellowships).
You may choose to apply for joint funding from one of the collaborating.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched the new fellowship investment framework. You are therefore advised to carefully read all the guidance we have provided, before submitting your application.

Apply for an early independence fellowship to support your career transition within the new Fellowship Investment Framework, if your research focus is within the MRC remit.
You must:
have a PhD or equivalent show evidence of career consolidation and past productivity show clear plans for establishing your own research niche that enables a step-change towards independence We will fund your salary and project costs (80% of the full economic cost) for up to five years (pro-rata for part-time fellowships).
You may choose to apply for joint funding from one of the collaborating organisations.
Update: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched the new Fellowship Investment Framework. You are therefore advised to carefully read all the guidance we have provided before submitting your application.

Apply for funding to reacquire research skills.
Your research can focus on any area of Medical Research Council (MRC)’s remit.
You must:
be a registered healthcare professional be a PhD graduate working outside of research, usually five or more years show plans to pursue a research career and be at an appropriate point in your clinical training to undertake the fellowship We will fund your salary and project costs for three years. We will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC).
You may also apply for joint funding from one of the collaborating organisations.
This is an ongoing funding opportunity. Application rounds close every January, April and September.

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £7 million across the three strands of the competition. This is for energy access in ODA eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to single applicants and collaborative applications.
To be eligible for funding you can be from any country and must be either a:
business of any size research organisation research and technology organisation charity non-governmental organisation To work alone your organisation must be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME). You must meet the criteria for both the administrative lead and the technology lead.
To be the UK administrative lead, your organisation must be a UK registered organisation of any size. The consortium must contain at least one SME from anywhere in the world claiming grant funding on this application.

This funding opportunity will support the growth of networks of researchers, practitioners and industry partners across the UK and Ireland focussed on the development of creative economy research, skills and innovation.
You must:
be based at an organisation eligible to apply to Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) include a project lead that is eligible for funding from Research Ireland. See Guidance for Irish co-Lead for more information be proposing activities within the creative economy Each network must commence by 30 September 2026 and the grant will be for a fixed term of 12 months.

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £7 million across the three strands of the competition. This is for energy access in ODA eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to collaborations only.
To be eligible for funding you can be from any country and must be either a:
business of any size research organisation research and technology organisation (RTO) charity non-governmental organisation (NGO) To be the UK administrative lead on a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered organisation of any size. The consortium must contain at least one micro, small or medium sized enterprise (SME) from anywhere in the world claiming grant funding on this application. Your project must involve at least one legally separate collaborator.

Apply for funding to pursue an ambitious, high-reward 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.
This is a pre-announcement, and the information may change. The funding opportunity will open in spring 2026 (date TBC). More information will be available on this page by then.

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £33 million for late stage collaborative research and development projects.
Your project will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to collaborations only.
To lead a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered business.
The consortium must contain at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise claiming grant funding on this application.

Apply for funding to explore the potential market of your bioscience-based idea, increase market awareness and gain deeper understanding of your technology’s potential applications.
The programme provides funding of up to £35,000, which includes up to £20,000 for the Entrepreneurial Lead’s salary and up to £15,000 for assumption testing and customer discovery activities.
This is open to bioscience PhD students, researchers and technicians in:
UK universities BBSRC-funded institutes UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) approved public sector research enterprises You must have completed ICURe Discover in order to apply.

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £33 million for late stage demonstration research and development projects. Projects will support the UK’s transition to zero emission vehicles and a pathway to a net zero automotive industry.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to single and collaborations.
To lead a project your organisation must be a UK registered business of any size.

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
UK registered government research organisations can apply for grants from £50,000 up to £250,000 to move viable public sector knowledge assets towards commercial readiness. This funding is provided by the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT).
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to single applicants. Grants shall be awarded to, and administered by, the applicant organisation.
To lead a project your organisation must be one of the following. A UK registered:
Public Sector Research Establishment (PRSE) UKRI wholly owned institute other public sector bodies that meet GOTT standard eligibility criteria, for example, arms length bodies (ALBs), that undertake research as a primary function

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £7 million across the three strands of the competition.
This is for energy access in official development assistance eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, the Indo Pacific region and Latin America.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to collaborations only
To be eligible for funding you can be from any country and must be either a:
business research organisation research and technology organisation charity non-governmental organisation To be the UK administrative lead on a collaborative project your organisation must be a UK registered organisation.
The consortium must contain at least one micro, small or medium sized enterprise from anywhere in the world claiming grant funding on this application.
Your project must involve at least one legally separate collaborator.

Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a grant of £2,500, to engage an external project facilitator to support the development of a full ADOPT grant application.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to single applicants only.
To lead a project your organisation must:
be an active farming, growing or forestry business based in England be able to evidence that you are an established business, including sole traders and partnerships have a UK bank account

Apply for funding to deliver a new Creative Industries Cluster in the second round of commissioning for this successful Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) portfolio.
Each cluster must:
address a clear challenge in a specific geographical region, sub-sector or both focus on creating new products, services, or experiences with commercial potential AHRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC).
The funding will last for five years. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding.
This is a two-stage process. Successful applicants to the outline stage will be invited to develop a full application.

Apply for funding to engage the public with Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) supported science and/or raise engagement capacity in STFC communities.
You must work for an organisation that:
is based in the UK has audited accounts It is essential that proposals have strong and clear links to the STFC funded remit and include a subject matter expert in an STFC funded remit area.
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £125,000 for TRAC organisations. We will fund 80% of the FEC. Non-TRAC organisations will be funded at 100%, up to £100,000.
Your project must be between 24 and 36 months in duration.

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a share of up to £4.5 million for on-farm trial and demonstration projects, to improve adoption of new ideas or solutions in the agricultural sector.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to collaborations only.
To lead a project your organisation must:
be an active farming, growing or forestry business based in England be able to evidence that you are an established business, including sole traders and partnerships collaborate with at least one other farming business based in the UK

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
UK registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises can apply for grant funding alongside private investment from selected investor partners.
Eligibility summary
This competition is open to single applicants only.
To apply your organisation must:
be a UK registered micro, small or medium sized business carry out its project work in the UK intend to exploit the results from or in the UK have been invited to apply by an investor from our pool of selected investor partners

Apply for the opportunity to run the Northern Ireland Election Study (NIES ) between 2026 and 2036, and the funding for the 2027 devolved election and the 2029 UK general election in Northern Ireland.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding.
This is a pre-announcement and the information may change.
When the funding opportunity opens, more information will be available on this page then.

Apply for the opportunity to run the British Election Study between 2027 and 2037, and the funding for the 2029 UK general election in Great Britain and surveys aligned to local elections.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding.
Funding is available for a maximum of 60 months, from October 2026.
This is a pre-announcement and the information may change.
When the funding opportunity opens, more information will be available on this page.

Apply for funding to recruit and train doctoral students through a doctoral focal award in art history, visual arts and creative practice.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) doctoral funding.
We will support up to 30 studentships per award over three cohorts and funding will be provided at the usual UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rates.
Each proposal must outline your approach to:
doctoral training and professional development increasing representation of students from underrepresented groups The first cohort of students will start in October 2026.

Apply for funding to support theory, including modelling, simulation and related software development, observation, experiment and new technology research, relevant to all aspects of solar system science
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding.
This funding covers up to three years of research activity starting from 1 October 2027.
For astronomy observation and theory, see the related astronomy observation and theory opportunity.

Apply for funding to support theory, including modelling, simulation and related software development, observation, experiment and new technology research, relevant to all aspects of astronomy and astrophysics beyond the solar system.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding.
This funding covers up to three years of research activity starting from 1 October 2027.
For solar physics and planetary science, see the related solar and planetary opportunity.

See the full opportunity details on the Innovation Funding Service.
UK registered academic institutions, research and technology organisations or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £10 million to fund innovation projects with businesses.
Eligibility summary
To lead a project your organisation must:
be a UK registered higher education or further education institution, RTO or Catapult collaborate with a UK registered business with two or more full time employees The business must contribute to the project’s costs.