Resilient Economy and Security through Ecosystem Transitions Grants
UK Research and Innovation funds interdisciplinary research on ecosystem transitions to strengthen economic resilience, security, and inform policy through the Resilient Economy and Security through Ecosystem Transitions Grants.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: September 16, 2026 (Notification of Intent) | October 22, 2026 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to £2.5M per project (80% FEC, 100% for international co-leads); total fund £15M; max project duration 3 years
Summary: Funds interdisciplinary research to understand and manage ecosystem transitions, strengthening economic prosperity, societal resilience, and national security.
Key Information: Distributed peer review is mandatory; project leads must participate as reviewers.
Description
This funding opportunity, led by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and co-funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), supports interdisciplinary research projects that advance understanding of ecosystem transitions—how, when, and why ecosystems reorganize or collapse. The RESET programme aims to generate actionable knowledge, tools, and approaches for anticipating and responding to ecosystem changes at local to global scales, with emphasis on impacts for ecosystem functions, resilience, economic prosperity, and national security. Projects are expected to address challenges such as predicting ecosystem change, understanding cascading risks, and building resilience, while collaborating with the RESET programme hub and related activities. Research must be interdisciplinary, integrating environmental, biological, social sciences, and other relevant fields, and should inform policy and support decision-making for societal wellbeing in the context of rapid environmental change.
