Research Infrastructure Renewal

Research Infrastructure Renewal is sponsored by Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Research Infrastructure Renewal. Funding opportunity from Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

Apply via the UKRI portal.

Research Infrastructure Renewal – UKRI Funding opportunity: Research Infrastructure Renewal Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Award range: £300,000 - £1,000,000 18 August 2026 9:00am UK time 21 October 2026 4:00pm UK time Apply for funding to renew, replace and enhance existing research infrastructure and facility capabilities that are demonstrably available to the wider environmental science community.

You must be based at an eligible UK research organisation. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) would not expect to receive more than one application from each facility or infrastructure. NERC will fund 100% of the full economic cost (FEC) of projects.

Awards should be in the range of £300,000 to £1,000,000 (see ‘Funding Available’). Projects can last for three to 12 months, and applicants must demonstrate readiness for delivery within the required timescales. You can only apply for this funding opportunity if your organisation is eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding.

This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard UKRI eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible . Each individual based at an eligible organisation may submit only one application as project lead and one application as project co-lead.

Applications must be submitted on behalf of the infrastructure, facility, platform or capability that will receive the investment. NERC expects a single coordinated application from each infrastructure, facility, platform or capability seeking investment through this funding opportunity.

Applications are welcomed from facilities and infrastructure capabilities that support users from across the UK research and innovation system, including researchers funded by multiple UKRI councils, government, industry and other relevant users where appropriate. 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: support for people with caring responsibilities alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Demand management is being applied to this funding opportunity. Further details are provided in the ‘additional information’ section. The aim of this funding opportunity is to support targeted capital investment that renews, replaces and enhances capabilities for environmental science within existing research infrastructures and facilities.

Through this investment, NERC aims to ensure that researchers and innovators can maintain and strengthen nationally important capabilities that are accessible to the wider environmental science community, ensuring that researchers and innovators can continue to access the facilities, infrastructure and services needed to deliver world-class research and innovation in support of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s mission.

Applications may seek funding for targeted capital investment that renews, replaces or enhances existing capabilities for environmental science within existing research infrastructures and facilities that are essential to current and future research and innovation.

Applications must be submitted on behalf of the infrastructure, facility, platform or capability that will receive the investment, rather than an individual research project or research group.

Applications should deliver one or more of the following to deliver UKRI priorities: renew or replace infrastructure that is critical to research delivery strengthen the long-term resilience, sustainability and value of existing infrastructure capabilities, including by addressing health, safety or operational risks enhance existing infrastructure to improve performance, reliability, resilience or accessibility All applications must demonstrate that the infrastructure capability is accessible to, and delivers significant benefit for, the wider environmental science community beyond the host organisation.

Applications must provide a clear plan for community access and use. We would also encourage applications which increase the utilisation and sharing of research infrastructure, and strengthen shared, multi-user or multi-institution infrastructure capability and access arrangements that maximise the use, visibility, accessibility and value of existing infrastructure assets.

Eligible investments may support physical, digital or hybrid infrastructure assets. This may include investment in digital or physical facilities, laboratories, collections, archives, platforms or other infrastructure assets. Applications must demonstrate that the proposed investments are sufficiently mature and readily available to enable expenditure within the required timescales of this funding opportunity.

ALERT: Applicants proposing investments that affect UKRI-owned or supported facilities, estates or operational infrastructure are encouraged to contact NERC before submitting an application. Early discussion will help ensure that deliverability, operational sustainability and any estate or resource implications can be appropriately considered. Awards may last for three to 12 months.

Projects must start by 1 February 2027 NERC will fund 100% of the FEC. Successful applicants must demonstrate that proposed investments are sufficiently mature and deliverable to enable implementation within the required timescales of the funding opportunity. Applicants will be required to provide a delivery schedule and expenditure profile as part of their application.

Awards must commence by 1 February 2027 and we expect most of the expenditure to occur before 31 March 2027. Initial expenditure is likely to include the major purchase of relevant infrastructure, and applicants should demonstrate that procurement and implementation plans are aligned with the delivery timescales of the funding opportunity. NERC will accept proposals requesting between £300,000 and £1,000,000 at 100% FEC.

In exceptional cases, projects wishing to request funding amounts outside of these limits should submit a request to NERC via email by 21 September 2026 ( researchfacilities@nerc. ukri. org ) and must have NERC approval prior to submitting the application.

This funding opportunity supports capital investment and associated capitalisable costs that are directly required to renew, replace, or enhance existing research infrastructure capabilities. See more guidance about Capital funding .

replacement of ageing, obsolete or end-of-life infrastructure enhancement of existing research infrastructure capabilities to improve performance, reliability, resilience, accessibility or functionality physical, digital and hybrid infrastructure assets, including software where it forms part of a capital investment integration, installation, configuration, testing, commissioning, and other activities that are essential to bringing the infrastructure capability into operational use infrastructure, systems or upgrades required to enable shared, multi-user or community access to infrastructure capabilities technical development and implementation activities that are directly attributable to delivering the proposed infrastructure capability resource-only activities that do not result in the creation, acquisition, renewal, replacement or enhancement of a capital asset or infrastructure capability the creation of entirely new facilities or major new research infrastructure routine operational, maintenance or servicing costs associated with existing infrastructure staffing or other resource costs associated with the routine operation of infrastructure following implementation business-as-usual operational, administrative or support costs estate costs, facilities management costs or other ongoing infrastructure liabilities that are not directly required to deliver the proposed capital investment infrastructure intended primarily for the exclusive use of a single research group, project, individual, or institution research projects where the primary purpose is the generation of new research findings rather than infrastructure renewal, replacement, or enhancement training, skills development or capacity-building activities that are not directly required to deliver the proposed capital investment activities that do not result in a capital asset or capital enhancement duplicate infrastructure where a clear need and added value cannot be demonstrated 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 .

Applicants should consider how the proposed investment will support the long-term sustainability, resilience and effective operation of the infrastructure capability. This may include consideration of the technical skills, expertise and support arrangements required to enable the value, utilisation, accessibility and community benefit of the infrastructure over its lifetime.

For infrastructure that supports shared or community use, applicants are encouraged to consider how technical knowledge, operational expertise and facility capability will be maintained and developed to support effective, sustainable service delivery.

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 applicants 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. 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. Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page: Confirm you are the project lead. 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.

Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.

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.

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

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 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 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 . 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.

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.

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email researchfacilities@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) 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. 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. NERC, as part of UKRI, will 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 . In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess 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: the wider research community Guidance for writing a summary Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of: the challenge the project addresses potential applications and benefits List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following: project co-lead (UK) (PcL) professional enabling staff research and innovation associate Only list one individual as project lead 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 . What are you hoping to achieve with the proposed infrastructure investment?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Explain how the proposed infrastructure will: be timely, given current trends and context meet the evidenced needs of clearly identified user groups enable high quality and important research meet the strategic aims of the funder or government enhance, benefit and complement the existing landscape support innovation in research be of international importance (if applicable) Within the Vision section we also expect you to: define the long-term value and benefit for the wider research and innovation community and explain how the proposed investment will maximise these highlight the consequences of not delivering this infrastructure 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. What are your plans to manage and deliver the proposed infrastructure investment?

What the assessors are looking for in your response We expect you to show how your approach includes: a credible management plan including strategic and operational matters if applicable, a legal model feasibility of the project plan including a work plan, milestones, and deliverables in the form of a Gantt chart or similar identification of risks and appropriate mitigation in the form of key performance indicators (KPIs) to determine the delivery of outputs and outcomes identification of how accessibility and inclusiveness have been incorporated into the design of the project plans for operational sustainability and legacy beyond the end of UKRI funding, which could include cost recovery models, securing additional funding, development or expansion after the initial period of funding Within the Approach section we also expect you to: demonstrate that the proposed investment is sufficiently developed and mature to enable a significant proportion of expenditure in 2026 to 2027 and delivery within the timescales of the funding opportunity, including any risks to expenditure and procurement and mitigations that will be put in place provide details of current and planned user communities, access arrangement and approaches to maximising the appropriate utilisation, accessibility and sharing of the infrastructure describe the technical skills, expertise and support arrangements required to deliver long-term value from the infrastructure capability, including the role of Research Technical Professionals, and how these will be sustained over time Include plans for monitoring and tracking progress towards intended impacts and benefits, including the collection of evidence to support an ongoing pipeline of outcomes and impacts Applicants must also provide: a high-level delivery plan showing key procurement (order placed, delivery and installation), implementation and commissioning milestones an expenditure profile showing planned expenditure by financial year and explaining any expenditure proposed beyond 2026 to 2027 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 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 Within this section we also expect you, and if relevant your team, to have experience of delivering similar infrastructure investments, procurements or upgrades, as well as operating shared, multi-user or community-facing infrastructure.

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 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 Within this section we also expect you to consider (where relevant): equitable and inclusive access to research infrastructure environmental sustainability and whole-life impacts of infrastructure investments responsible management of collections, samples or other research assets any potential unintended consequences arising from the operation, accessibility or use of the infrastructure 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: 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. 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 . 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.

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.

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 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: significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences) 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 Within this section we also expect you to: explain how the requested resources are essential to delivering the proposed infrastructure capability justify the scale of investment requested and demonstrate why it represents good value for money justify any costs associated with installation, integration, configuration, commissioning or implementation activities explain any assumptions underpinning the costs presented demonstrate that costs are realistic and aligned with the proposed delivery plan and expenditure profile 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 intended outcomes maximise potential outcomes and impacts 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 assessment of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.

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.

How we will assess your application We will assess your application using the following process. Applications that do not meet the eligibility and scope requirements indicated for this funding opportunity will be rejected.

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 strategic relevance, potential for impact and maturity in such a way that is appropriate to the funding opportunity aims If the number of applications received is significantly higher than anticipated and exceeds the capacity of the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) reserves the right to apply a shortlisting stage prior to full assessment.

Any shortlisting will be based on the published requirements within the Scope section, particularly those areas of readiness, accessibility to the community and evidence of genuine renewal need. Shortlisting decisions will be supported by an independent chair. Applications progressing beyond any shortlisting stage will be assessed by an expert panel against the published assessment criteria.

The panel will make funding recommendations to UKRI. For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions . Feedback on your proposal will be provided.

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 .

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed. The assessment areas we will use are: applicant and team capability to deliver ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI) resources and cost justification 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.

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 researchfacilities@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 Our phone lines are open: Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm 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 .

If the number of applications received is significantly higher than anticipated and exceeds the capacity