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Pushing the Frontiers of Environmental Research

Pushing the Frontiers of Environmental Research

Supports United Kingdom environmental researchers through exploratory innovation grants that expand frontier ecological evidence.

Between cyclesNatural Environment Research CouncilUnited Kingdom
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About

Pushing the Frontiers of Environmental Research is the Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) flagship applicant-led, continuously open funding stream, which launched in its current always-open form on 31 March 2026. It replaces the previous Standard Grants route as NERC's primary vehicle for curiosity-driven environmental science and is now part of NERC's Discovery Science family of scheme…

What this grant funds

Curiosity-driven environmental research — pure, applied, technology-led, or policy-driven — within NERC remit including climate, earth systems, ocean science, ecology, and natural hazards.

Key facts
CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Rolling
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.Rolling
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.36 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.36–48 months
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.—
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Last verified: 24 Jul 2026Source: www.ukri.org