# Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface

**Funder:** NERC
**Deadline:** 1 October 2026 (4:00pm UK time)
**Consortium:** Required — UK project lead plus international co-leads from US (NSF) and/or Canada (NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR)
**Application:** Single stage
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/enhancing-resilience-to-wildfires-in-the-wildland-urban-interface/
**Last verified:** 8 July 2026

## Eligibility & scope

UK-led interdisciplinary research on wildfire resilience in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), in collaboration with US (NSF) and/or Canadian (NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR) partners. Project lead must be UK-based; international co-leads required. Covers wildfire occurrence, impacts, and adaptation/mitigation/recovery interventions. Standard 20% FEC applies; no additional matched funding required.

## Summary

NERC's Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface call funds UK-led interdisciplinary research on wildfire occurrence, impacts, and community adaptation in the wildland-urban interface, with mandatory collaboration from research partners in the US or Canada. Project leads must be UK-based, with international co-leads required from NSF (US) or NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR (Canada). This is a one-off call closing 1 October 2026.

## Who should apply

- UK-based lead researcher (academic institution) with interdisciplinary team expertise in wildfire science, social resilience, or land management
- Research groups with established collaborations or commitment to partner with NSF-funded researchers (US) or NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR-funded partners (Canada)
- Projects addressing wildfire occurrence, impacts on communities, or adaptation and mitigation strategies in the wildland-urban interface
- Interdisciplinary teams spanning physical sciences, social sciences, and/or policy, not single-discipline proposals

## Key dates

- Deadline 1 October 2026, 4:00pm UK time
- Single-stage application
- One-off call (not recurring)

## Tips for applicants

- International partnership must be confirmed before submission: identify named NSF or Canadian funding partner and secure a written co-lead commitment; loose collaboration statements will not pass eligibility review.
- Interdisciplinarity is mandatory, bring together physical science (fire behaviour, climate), social science (resilience, adaptation), and/or policy expertise; single-discipline proposals are disadvantaged.
- Frame the project around the wildland-urban interface specifically, not generalised wildfire research; NERC emphasises the at-risk communities and built environment dimension.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I apply if I'm based in a UK university but not a British citizen?

Yes, the requirement is that the project lead is based at a UK institution, not citizenship.

### Do I need a partner from the US and Canada, or just one?

You need co-leads from the US (NSF) or Canada (NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR), or both; at least one international partner is required.

### Do I need to secure matched funding for this call?

No, the call applies standard 20% Full Economic Cost (FEC) with no additional matched funding requirement.

### Is this call annual or a one-time opportunity?

This is a one-off call; it will not be repeated after the 1 October 2026 deadline.

### What research topics fall within scope?

The call covers wildfire occurrence and prediction, impacts on communities and ecosystems, and adaptation, mitigation, or recovery interventions in the wildland-urban interface.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/nerc-enhancing-resilience-to-wildfires-in-the-wildland--2026-10) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.