Browse funding

Society’s most important advances have stemmed from those willing to think differently about what might be possible. ARIA is an R&D funding agency built to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. Created by an Act of Parliament, and sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, ARIA funds breakthrough R&D in under explored areas to catalyse new paths to prosperity for the UK and the world.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) invites applications for funding to strengthen the UK’s role in digital technical standards, which are essential to the economy and society and developed through global multistakeholder collaboration in organisations such as the European Telecommunication Standardization Institution (ETSI), Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The goal is to support innovative initiatives that embed standards teaching in higher education, inspire career interest, enhance academic–industry collaboration and strengthen the UK talent pipeline for participation in international standards development.

Apply for funding to combine design-led interventions with arts and humanities methodologies to make positive contributions to the green transition. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding.

The National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) provides co-funded grant support to derisk high-reward R&D projects with a clear target market. NSIP operates open funding calls for all space-related technologies under two strands: NSIP Kick Starter that supports highly disruptive early-stage innovations, and NSIP Major Projects which emphasizes commercialisation and growth of particularly lucrative ideas from UK businesses, universities and research organisations. NSIP Call 3 will expand the NSIP portfolio of innovative R&D projects that meet the programme’s objectives to: catalyse investment into the UK space sector, capture market growth, raise Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of priority space capabilities, and position space activities closer to commercialisation and exploitation.

The Heat Network Efficiency Scheme (HNES) provides funding to public, private and third sector applicants, to support improvements to existing district heating or communal heating projects in England and Wales that are operating sub-optimally and resulting in poor outcomes for customers and operators. Projects can apply to HNES for either revenue or capital grant funding: Revenue grants – grants to fund procurement or mobilisation of external third-party support to carry out Optimisation Studies. These studies will assess heat network projects to identify causes of sub-optimal performance and recommend costed intervention or improvement measures. Capital grants – grants to part-fund the delivery (installation) of eligible intervention/improvement measures.

The UK Space Agency, invites proposals for projects through the International Bilateral Fund (IBF) that will help strengthen the UK space sector’s international partnerships. Projects can be up to 18 months and must begin on 1 April 2027. Up to £1.5m is available in UK Space Agency grant funding for each project. Owing to high levels of anticipated demand for this funding call, the UK Space Agency has taken the decision to restrict the number of applications to one per lead organisation (for the avoidance of doubt, this measure applies to all types of organisations, including industrial, academic and public sector research bodies). The inclusion of an international partner and matched contributions (as per UK subsidy control guidelines) are mandatory.

Funding opportunity for mid-range capital equipment that will enable and enhance research across MRC’s scientific areas. You must be employed at a research organisation eligible to apply for MRC funding. There is no limit on the value of the grant, the value specified within the summary page is an example.

This award is for BBSRC-funded research groups to pump-prime interactions with FAPESP scientists in Brazil. Applications must be made by a project lead who is currently in receipt of BBSRC research funding. There is no limit on the value of the grant, the value specified within the summary page is an example.

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £14.3 million to accelerate the adoption of quantum enabled position, navigation, and timing (PNT) and sensing technologies by addressing specific technical and commercial barriers.

UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £10 million to fund innovation projects with businesses.

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million for project development studies to support the development of ultra long duration battery energy storage demonstrators in the UK.

Apply for funding for a research grant in any area within the remit of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for BBSRC funding. There is no limit on the value of the grant, the value specified within the summary page is an example.

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million for innovative projects in specific technology areas. You must collaborate with at least one Swiss implementation partner applying under the equivalent Swiss Innosuisse programme.

UK registered businesses can apply for funding for life science manufacturing capital investment projects which help increase UK health resilience.

Apply for this sector transition fellowship to transfer knowledge and skills across academic and policy sectors and increase sector porosity. There is no limit on the value of the grant, the value specified within the summary page is an example.

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for pre-commercialisation projects. This funding is from the UKRI R&D Missions Accelerator Programme through the Clean Energy Superpower Mission.

Apply for funding to work with overseas researchers in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Submit a collaborative research grant application within the remit of Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for AHRC funding. There is no limit on the value of the grant, the value specified within the summary page is an example.

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £33 million to develop device level hardware and associated software to meet the scale, programmability, and runtime performance needs of universal fault tolerant quantum computers.

Apply for funding to pursue an adventurous, ambitious, curiosity-driven project in environmental research. You must be: • based at a UK research organisation eligible for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding • in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements There is no limit on the value of the grant, the value specified within the summary page is an example.

The People and Research Scheme offers grants for activities that help people understand and champion the historic environment through, engagement, skills, training, education and heritage project-based posts. It also offers grants for research activities related to the historic environment sector including scientific and technical conservation, surveys and investigations, publication, archiving, toolkits and guidance. https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/grants/what-we-fund/people-activities/ https://historicengland.org.uk/advice/grants/what-we-fund/research-activities/