NERC
NERC Urgency Funding
Outline proposal must be submitted within 4 weeks of the environmental event; full proposal via Je-S within 10 working days of outline approval. Rolling/event-triggered.
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NERC Urgency Funding supports rapid data collection and essential initial analysis following unexpected environmental events, with decisions in weeks rather than months. Open to UK-based researchers at lecturer level and above, it funds projects up to one year with a rolling, event-triggered application process. Each researcher can submit one proposal per two-year period.
Details
| Funder | NERC |
| Duration | Up to 1 year |
| Application | 2-stage: outline proposal (1 page A4 to urgencygrants@nerc.ukri.org) → full proposal via Je-S within 10 working days of approval |
| Frequency | Continuous |
| Eligible countries | GB |
Eligibility & scope
For UK-based researchers (lecturer level or above at eligible UK research organisations) needing urgent data collection following an unexpected environmental event. Funds urgent data collection and essential initial analysis only; equipment >£10k not eligible. Applicants must have a strategy for taking research forward after the urgent phase. No more than one proposal per investigator in a two-year period.
Who Should Apply
- •Researchers employed at lecturer level or above at UK HEIs, research council institutes, or eligible research organisations
- •UK-based scientists responding to unexpected environmental events (floods, storms, ecological collapse, seismic events, etc.)
- •Teams with capacity to conduct outline proposal within 4 weeks of the event occurrence
- •Projects targeting urgent data collection and initial analysis, not equipment procurement or long-term studies
Key Dates
- •Outline proposal due within 4 weeks of environmental event occurrence, submitted by email
- •Full proposal via Je-S within 10 working days of outline approval
- •Project duration up to 1 year; rolling intake (event-driven)
Tips for Applicants
- ✓Speed is the mechanism: outline (one A4 page) gates fast panel review; focus on why the event is novel or unexpected and why delay would harm the science.
- ✓Equipment above £10,000 is not eligible; frame funding around staff time, sample analysis, and travel for urgent fieldwork, not instrumentation.
- ✓The two-year 'one proposal per investigator' rule is strict; do not resubmit similar proposals if your previous one succeeded within the window.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an eligible environmental event for NERC Urgency Funding?
Unexpected environmental events that create a time-critical scientific opportunity, examples include floods, storms, disease outbreaks, seismic events, or ecological collapses. The event must be recent enough that delaying data collection until the next standard grant round would compromise the research.
How long do I have to submit an outline proposal after an environmental event?
The outline proposal must be submitted no later than four weeks after the environmental event first occurs.
Can I apply for NERC Urgency Funding if I am a postdoctoral researcher?
No, you must be employed at lecturer level or above at an eligible UK research organisation.
Is there a budget limit for NERC Urgency Funding?
The scheme does not fund equipment over £10,000, but does not publish an overall project budget cap; confirm with urgencygrants@nerc.ukri.org before submitting.
Can I submit more than one NERC Urgency Funding proposal?
No, researchers are limited to one proposal per investigator per two-year period.
Summary generated by AI based on published grant information. Always verify details on the funder's website.
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