NERC

Research Infrastructure Renewal

£300k–£1M (100% FEC)| Deadline: 21 October 2026 (in 2 days)|3–12 months

4:00pm UK time

Last seen in a scan/import: 19 Aug 2026.

Catalog updated: 16 Aug 2026.

These timestamps are not source verification. Confirm the current deadline and your eligibility on the funder’s call page before applying.

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NERC Research Infrastructure Renewal funds capital investment to renew, replace, or enhance environmental science research facilities accessible across the UK research community, with awards of £300,000-£1 million at 100% full economic cost. The call is open to UK-eligible organisations only and funds rapid infrastructure upgrades to keep research facilities competitive. Projects must start by 1 February 2027, with most expenditure expected before 31 March 2027.

Details

Funder	NERC
Budget	£300k–£1M (100% FEC)
Deadline	21 October 2026
Duration	3–12 months
Application	Single stage
Eligible countries	GB

Eligibility & scope

Capital investment to renew, replace or enhance existing environmental science research infrastructures and facilities accessible to the wider UK research community. Awards £300k–£1M at 100% FEC; exceptional cases outside this range require prior NERC approval by 21 Sep 2026. Projects must start by 1 Feb 2027; most expenditure expected before 31 Mar 2027. Open to UKRI-eligible organisations only.

Who Should Apply

•UK-eligible organisations with existing environmental science research infrastructure
•Research institutions seeking to upgrade or replace equipment or facilities
•Projects with clear community benefit across the UK research base
•Applications requiring rapid capital investment with compressed project timelines

Key Dates

•Deadline 21 October 2026, 16:00 UK time
•Single-stage application; exceptional cases exceeding £1M require prior NERC approval by 21 September 2026
•Projects must start by 1 February 2027 with most expenditure by 31 March 2027

Tips for Applicants

✓If your project exceeds £1M, submit a pre-approval request to NERC by 21 September 2026; waiting until the main deadline means immediate rejection.
✓Emphasise accessibility and shared-use arrangements in your application; NERC prioritises infrastructure open to the wider research community over single-institution upgrades.
✓Plan expenditure to complete by 31 March 2027; the tight timeline rules out projects requiring extended procurement or installation phases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I apply for in NERC Research Infrastructure Renewal?

Awards range from £300,000 to £1 million at 100% full economic cost; exceptional cases outside this range require prior NERC approval by 21 September 2026.

Who can apply for NERC Research Infrastructure Renewal?

UK-eligible organisations only; this includes universities, research institutes, and other UKRI-eligible bodies.

When must my project start and finish?

Projects must begin by 1 February 2027, with most expenditure expected before 31 March 2027, making this a fast-track call for near-term infrastructure upgrades.

Is NERC Research Infrastructure Renewal competitive?

Single-stage applications are assessed; the compressed timeline and accessibility requirement favour shovel-ready projects benefiting multiple research groups.

nercinfrastructure-renewalenvironmental-scienceuk-onlycapital-investmentrapid-funding

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Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.