Research Infrastructure Renewal
UK Research and Innovation's Research Infrastructure Renewal grant funds upgrades to environmental science research infrastructure to boost performance, resilience, and community access across the UK.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: August 18, 2026 (applications open) | September 21, 2026 (exceptional funding requests) | October 21, 2026 (application deadline, 16:00 UK time)
Funding Amounts: £300,000–£1,000,000 per award (100% FEC); total fund £8,000,000; project duration 3–12 months
Summary: Supports renewal, replacement, and enhancement of environmental science research infrastructure to strengthen national capabilities and community access.
Key Information: Requests for funding outside the standard range must be approved by September 21, 2026.
Description
This funding opportunity, administered by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) under UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), provides targeted capital investment to renew, replace, or enhance existing research infrastructure and facility capabilities in environmental science. The grant aims to ensure that vital infrastructure remains accessible, resilient, and valuable for the UK research and innovation community. Eligible investments include physical, digital, or hybrid infrastructure assets such as laboratories, collections, archives, and research platforms, with a strong emphasis on improving performance, reliability, and accessibility. Projects must demonstrate clear community access plans and maximize the benefit and utilization of infrastructure for the broader research ecosystem.
