This funding round has closed.

Resilient economy and security through ecosystem transitions grants

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Applications closed

Funding: Up to £2,500,000
Deadline: 22 October 2026
Location: England
Applications: Applications closed

Overview

This NERC and Defra co-funded call pays for research projects under the Resilient Economy and Security through Ecosystem Transitions (RESET) programme. Projects should improve understanding of how, when and why ecosystems transition, reorganise or collapse, and what that means for economic prosperity, societal resilience and national security.

The call is open now and closes on 22 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

The full economic cost of your project can be up to £2.5 million, and the funders will pay 80% of that. Eligible costs for an international project co-lead are funded at 100%, capped at 30% of the overall project cost. Projects can run for up to three years and must start by 14 February 2027. The total fund is £15 million.

Your project should address one or more of three themes: predicting ecosystem change and transitions, understanding ecosystem change through cascading risks, and building ecosystem resilience. It should look at natural or semi-natural ecosystems on land, in fresh water or in coastal seas. Work across disciplines is strongly encouraged. Funded teams will work closely with the RESET hub and the wider programme throughout their award.

The project lead must be based at an eligible UK research organisation. Individuals at any career stage can apply.

One practical caveat: some work is out of scope. This includes projects that focus mainly on urban built-up areas, intensive farming or aquaculture, intensive commercial forestry, active mining, oil or gas extraction, or major infrastructure. PhD studentship costs and NERC ship-time costs are not funded.

Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/resilient-economy-and-security-through-ecosystem-transitions-grants/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.

Requirements to check

Who can apply:

academic

Key requirements:

Project lead must be at an eligible UK research organisation
Funds 80% of full economic cost, up to £2.5 million FEC per project
Maximum duration of three years, with a start by 14 February 2027
Project leads must take part in distributed peer review
No more than two applications across this call and the RESET Hub call, and only one as project lead
PhD studentship costs and NERC ship-time costs are not funded

The project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding, including eligible public sector research establishments and independent research organisations. Research groups and individuals at any career stage can apply. International researchers can join as project co-lead (international). Other international collaborators join as project partners. You can be involved in no more than two applications across this call and the related RESET Hub call, and only one as project lead. Project leads must agree to take part in distributed peer review.

This summary may not include every exclusion. Check the full eligibility rules, including who and what the funder will not support.

Who is this for?

UK research organisations, research groups and individual researchers at any career stage who want to study ecosystem transitions and their effects on the economy, society and national security.

Sectors

Environment & Conservation Professional & Scientific Services

Regions

England

No published award history for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Some funders do not publish their grants data.

Full details from Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

Apply for funding to improve our understanding of how ecosystem change affects resilience, security and prosperity as part of the NERC-Defra co-funded Resilient Economy and Security through Ecosystem Transitions programme.You must be based at an eligible UK organisation to apply.

How to apply

Apply through the Start application link on the UKRI opportunity page. If you need a NERC facility or service, discuss your plans with them at least two months before you submit, and confirm in your application that you have their technical assessment. For coastal seas work, contact NERC Marine Planning before the closing date.

Get notified about grants like this

Create a free account to receive alerts when new environment & conservation funding opens.

Create free account