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Funder ·

Natural Environment Research Council

Supports Natural Environment Research Council, the United Kingdom body financing environmental science, biodiversity, climate, and hazard research.

United Kingdomwww.ukri.org
Key stats
Annual funding—
Programs9
Active grants6
Total grants7
About

The Natural Environment Research Council is the United Kingdom's principal public funder for environmental science and one of the UKRI councils. Its remit spans climate, biodiversity, earth systems, oceans, and natural hazards, with the council's portfolio anchored in research, infrastructure, and training.

NERC funds discovery science, strategic research, national capability, capital investment, international collaborations, and Antarctic support. The current responsive-mode anchor is Pushing the Frontiers of Environmental Research, which is open with no closing date and carries a maximum budget of GBP 950,000 FEC per project. NERC generally funds 80% of full economic cost for UK organisations, while some international co-leads can be supported at 100%.

The council favours UK research organisations and does not fund commercial businesses as lead applicants. Its strongest fit is therefore university-led or institute-led environmental work that can move from curiosity-driven science into national capability or strategically important applied programmes. Recent schemes such as the Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund, urgency funding, and collaborative Antarctic routes show how NERC mixes open competition with targeted science needs.

Programs & grants under this funder
Biological Influence on Ocean Carbon (BIO-Carbon)

Funds ocean-carbon modelling studies improving understanding of biological processes that enhance storage in seawater systems.

1 grant
Biological Influence on Ocean Carbon: Novel Modelling Approaches
Open
£1M pool·9 days
NERC Constructing a Digital Environment

Supports United Kingdom environmental monitoring innovation through integrated sensor networks built with partnered institutions.

Doctoral Focal Award: Environmental Evidence Synthesis

Funds doctoral cohorts in environmental evidence synthesis to build advanced research skills and policy-ready outputs.

1 grant
Doctoral Focal Award: Environmental Evidence Synthesis
Open
£8.1M pool·10 days
Environmental Sciences Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund

Provides seed support for new international environmental science collaborations led from the United Kingdom.

1 grant
Environmental Sciences Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund
Open
£1M pool·11 days
NERC Independent Research Fellowships

Funds independent research fellowships in the United Kingdom to help early-career scientists establish environmental teams.

1 grant
NERC Independent Research Fellowship
Opens 2027
£7.3M pool
NERC Innovation Programme

Supports environmental science firms and researchers in the United Kingdom through translational routes from knowledge to products.

NERC-NSF Lead Agency: Environmental Science Collaboration

Supports cross-national environmental science collaboration between the United Kingdom and the United States through lead-agency programmes.

1 grant
NERC-NSF Lead Agency — Collaborative
Open
— pool·Rolling submission
Pushing the Frontiers of Environmental Research

Funds curiosity-driven environmental science in the United Kingdom across ecology, climate, and earth systems.

1 grant
Pushing the Frontiers of Environmental Research
Open
— pool·Rolling submission
NERC Urgency Funding

Supports urgent environmental research responses in the United Kingdom for rapid evidence following unexpected events.

1 grant
NERC Urgency Funding
Open
— pool·Rolling submission
Parent entityUK Research and Innovation
Last verified: 1 Jun 2026Source: www.ukri.org