Strategic research - NERC

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Partnerships and opportunities

When opportunities arise for NERC to work in partnership on small to medium-scale strategic research activities this may be achieved through a partnerships and opportunities programme.

Partnerships and opportunities are aimed at providing a timely response to opportunities for NERC to partner with research funders such as national and international funding bodies and government departments.

NERC anticipates that its funding will be at least matched by the partner organisation, and that the partnership will be characterised by jointly agreed programme goals and peer review mechanisms. The size of the programme will vary according to the opportunity.

The process from opportunity to decision will take around two to three months and consists of the following:

  1. opportunity with partner
  2. NERC Executive Funding Group
  3. NERC contributes to a new initiative
  4. call for proposals.

Ideas for Partnerships and Opportunities programmes come from the community and from our partner funding bodies who are already prepared to co-fund a joint programme.

A case for NERC to join the partnership is developed by NERC with the relevant experts. These are then considered by the NERC Executive Funding Group, a body within NERC set up to advise the Executive Chair, who has delegated financial authority for the funding route.

Once agreement has been made to allocate funding to a new Partnerships and Opportunities programme, specific funding opportunities will be announced for the UK environmental science community to respond to with grant proposals that will be peer reviewed through the usual routes.

These new activities may be managed by NERC or another funder.

Last updated: 17 August 2021

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