Natural Environment Research Council logo
Natural Environment Research Council

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

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…

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

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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Guides for this application

All guides β†’
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Restoring European Blue Forests

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union

Funds €3.5–4M projects that restore blue forests, protect coastal carbon and make marine ecosystems more resilient.

Climate TechBuilt Environment+2
€3.5M – €4.0MSep'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Ocean Mission: Resilient Coasts, Rivers and Islands

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union

Funds €8–8.925M projects that make Europe’s coasts, rivers, waterfront cities and islands safer and more resilient to climate change.

Climate TechBuilt Environment+2
€8M – €8.9MSep'27
European Commission logo
Scheduled

Biotechnology for Healthy Soil and Resilient Agriculture

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union

Funds two €6.4M projects that turn soil-friendly biotechnology into scalable, safe and market-ready farm solutions.

BiotechAgritech+2
€6.4MApr'27
Innovate UK logo
Open

Innovate UK Themed Competitions

πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§Innovate UK Β· United Kingdom

Funds sector-themed innovation competitions in the United Kingdom for hydrogen, manufacturing, agri-tech, health, and AI.

AgritechAI+13
Β£25K – Β£5M
European Innovation Council logo
Open

EIC Pathfinder Challenges

πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊEIC Β· European Union

Funds European consortia developing breakthrough solutions across AI, climate, energy, materials, medical, and quantum fields.

AIBiotech+5
€4MOct'26
Innovate UK logo
Open

UK-Singapore CRD 2026

πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§Innovate UK Β· United Kingdom

Funding for UK-Singapore industrial research collaborations.

AIBiotech+7
Β£100K – Β£900KDec'26