NERC urgency funding
NERC urgency funding supports environmental researchers to collect data and carry out initial analysis after unexpected natural events, preserving time-sensitive research opportunities before conditions change.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: Rolling applications | Outline: within four weeks of event start | Invited full application: within 10 working days
Funding Amounts: Up to £100,000 full economic cost per project; NERC funds 80%; up to one year
Summary: Rapid funding for urgent environmental data collection and initial analysis after unexpected natural events.
Key Information: An outline must evidence when the event began and explain why another funding route would miss the research opportunity.
Description
NERC urgency funding is run by the Natural Environment Research Council within UK Research and Innovation. It enables researchers to capture critical early data from unexpected, short-lived environmental events—such as earthquakes, droughts, floods or ephemeral events in ecosystems—before conditions change. Projects must fall predominantly within one or more of NERC’s research areas.
The award is for urgent data collection and essential initial analysis, not a longer programme of investigation. Applicants need a strategy for taking the research forward after the urgent phase and must show that applying through another available funding opportunity would cause them to miss environmental research of high scientific importance. NERC may limit applications concerning the same event or location.
