Stage one: expression of interest (EoI)
There is a mandatory EoI stage for this UKRI funding opportunity.
You must submit your EoI by 30 July 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. If a full application is submitted without a prior EoI by the stated deadline, it will be rejected.
Submit an EoI
The EoI form requests details of the proposed research projects team and a summary of the research project application. This information will not be assessed but will be used to inform plans for the assessment panel. Nothing provided as part of the EoI step is considered finalised, therefore additional partners and project co-leads may be added at a later stage, and the application may change as further details are prepared.
Feedback will not be given for the EoI, unless we have concerns regarding eligibility or the fit to the funding opportunity scope.
Stage two: full application
We are running this funding opportunity on the new UKRI Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The UK project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the UK lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
To apply
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.
- Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
When including images, you must:
- provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
- insert each new image on a new line
- use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:
- sentences or paragraphs of text
- tables
- excessive quantities of images
A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
References
References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:
- references are easily identifiable by the assessors
- references are formatted as appropriate to your research
- persistent identifiers are used where possible
General use of hyperlinks
Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.
For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.
Deadline
UKRI must receive your application by 1 October 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
Personal data
Processing personal data
NERC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.
NERC, as part of UKRI, will share the application and any personal information that it contains with NSF, NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR, as appropriate, so that they can participate in the assessment process. For more information on how funders use personal information, please visit:
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email wildfires@nerc.ukri.org
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
- individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
- declaration of interest
- additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
- conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.
Institutional matched funding
There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.
This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.
Publication of outcomes
NERC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at NERC Board and panel outcomes.
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
- opinion-formers
- policymakers
- the public
- the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
- context
- the challenge the project addresses
- aims and objectives
- potential applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
- visiting researcher
Only list one individual as project lead. Only UK-based applicants can be listed as project lead (PL).
For administrative purposes, it is necessary to identify a single UK project lead who must be affiliated with the UK lead research organisation. The UK project lead and their research office will be ultimately responsible for the administration of the UKRI grant and collaboration arrangements. However, the balance of activity and leadership across the leadership team and partner organisations can be shared as is appropriate for your application.
You should include only the project lead on the US, Canada, or both, component of your application within the core team and use the project co-lead (international) role. Full details of the US project team must be included in the ‘US component’ section if applicable. Full details of the Canada project team must be included in the ‘Canada component’ section if applicable.
UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Application questions
Vision
Word limit: 1,100
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your proposed work:
- is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
- has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area
- is timely given current trends, context, and needs
- impacts world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment
- will enhance resilience to wildfire risk at the local, regional or national scale
- will catalyse new and existing collaborations and build capacity amongst researchers across various jurisdictions in the UK, and US or Canada
Within this section we also expect you to:
- indicate clearly how your application fits the scope of this funding opportunity
- if addressing aim one, clearly describe how your application will address one or more knowledge gaps in our current understanding of wildfire occurrence, intensity, behaviour and spread within the WUI under evolving and future fire regime scenarios
- if addressing aim two, clearly describe how you will investigate impacts of wildfire occurrence in the WUI
- describe how your project will develop interventions and solutions for adaptation, mitigation and recovery to wildfire in the WUI (aim three)
- identify the potential direct or indirect benefits and impacts and who the beneficiaries might be
References may be included within this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Approach
Word limit: 2,700
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives, and in relation to the scope of this funding opportunity
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
- uses a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable)
- summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed (if applicable)
- will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
- describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work
Within the Approach section we also expect you to demonstrate:
- access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the proposed work
- a detailed and comprehensive integrated project plan including milestones and timelines in the form of a Gantt chart or similar
- how your proposed project represents a true collaborative partnership between the countries involved, highlighting the relevance and benefits the research will bring to those countries
- how you will adopt interdisciplinary approaches, including those which integrate perspectives at the intersection of human, animal, environmental and built environment systems, to meaningfully bridge disciplinary and sectoral siloes and enhance collaboration
- how your research has been designed so that it will generate local, regional or national impacts
References may be included within this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word limit: 1,650
Why are you the right team to successfully deliver the proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you, and your international team, have:
- the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
- the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
- the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
- contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
- included appropriate mechanisms to ensure true transdisciplinary working throughout the entire project lifecycle
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
The word limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.
Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.
Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:
- contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
- the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
- contributions to the wider research and innovation community
- contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit
Additions
Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).
Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
References may be included within this section.
The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:
- the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project
- the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, whilst minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm
- how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project
If you are collecting or using data you should identify:
- any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further re-use of data)
- formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with
Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:
- animals
- human participants
- genetically modified organisms
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.
Animal Involvement and”3Rs”
You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.
If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
- what animals you are involving
- the severity of the procedures you are using
- where the procedures will take place
- welfare standards you aim to meet
- the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs
You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.
To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals.
What counts as an animal
UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.
Genetically modified organisms and biological risk
You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.
If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
- the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include
- the intended use of the organism or genetic technology
- the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project
For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.
Human Participation in Health-related Research
You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.
If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.
You may be asked about:
- what type of human participation your project includes
- the project design for human participation
- the phase of the clinical trial
- whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so how the project will be registered
- whether diversity and inclusion will be considered
For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.
Resources and cost justification
Word limit: 2,500
What will you need to deliver the UK component of your proposed work and how much will it cost?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Justify the UK component’s more costly resources, in particular:
- project staff
- significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
- any equipment that will cost more than £25,000
- any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
- all facilities and infrastructure costs
- all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’
You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.
Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:
- are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
- represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise potential outcomes and impacts
US costs
You must enter a zero cost for your project co-lead (international) in this section. You must then provide the total US cost in the ‘US component’ section by completing and uploading the NSF budget and justification form. Within this form, you should provide narrative budget justification for all US costs.
Canada costs
You must enter a zero cost for your project co-lead (international) in this section. You must then provide the total Canadian cost in the ‘Canada component’ section by completing and uploading the relevant budget and justification forms (one each for NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR). Across these forms, you should provide narrative budget justification for all Canada costs.
US component
Word limit: 10
What will you need to deliver the US component of your proposed work and how much will it cost?
This section must be completed if your project has a US component.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Justify the US component’s resources and costs by demonstrating how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:
- are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
- represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise potential outcomes and impacts
Within the text box , please provide the total budget being requested for the US component of the application in USD to two decimal places, for example, $X,XXX,XXX.XX
Using the file upload box , you must upload a completed NSF budget and justification form (DOC, 47KB) as one single PDF. Budget preparation instructions can be found in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide under ‘Budget and Budget Justification’.
Information required in other sections
Ensure you have included your US project lead applicant as a project co-lead (international) in the ‘Core team’ section. This role must be included with zero cost in the ‘Resources and cost justification’ section. Do not include any other US project team members in the ‘Core team’ section or in the ‘Project partners’ section, these should be detailed in the NSF budget and justification form.
You must include the US collaborative team’s activity within this project within sections on ‘Vision’, ‘Approach’, ‘Applicant and team capability to deliver’, and any other relevant sections. Do not include costs associated with the US collaborative team in the ‘Resources and cost justification’ section.
Upload guidance
Upload a single PDF containing a completed NSF budget and justification form, ensuring it is no larger than 8MB.
For the file name, use the Funding Service number the system gives to your application when you create an application, immedi
tely followed by the words ‘US component’, then use the ‘Upload’ button.
Unless specifically requested, do not include any personal data within the attachment.
Once you have completed the textbox and uploaded the relevant documentation, mark this section as complete and move to the next one. If you do not have a US component on your application, you should enter ‘N/A’ and move to the next section.
Canada component
Word limit: 30
What will you need to deliver the Canada component of your proposed work and how much will it cost?
This section must be completed if your project has a Canada component.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Justify the Canada component’s resources and costs by demonstrating how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:
- are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
- represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise potential outcomes and impacts
Read the guidance with care and ensure all required documents for the Canada component of your project are uploaded within this section.
Within the textbox:
- provide the total budget being requested for the Canada component of the application in CAD to two decimal places, for example, $X,XXX,XXX.XX
- paste the following question into the textbox and provide your answer (Yes or No): Does the application include partner organisation(s) from the private sector who will be involved in the NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR-funded research activities?
Using the file upload box, you must upload the following documents as one single, combined PDF.
Include a completed budget and justification form for each of the agencies from which budget is being requested:
In the first tab, provide the proposed expenditures and budget justification. In the second tab, provide the requested information for each member of the NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR-supported research teams, as well as partner organisations (if any). Consult the Tri-Agency Financial Administration Guide for information about the eligibility of expenditures for the direct costs of research and the regulations governing the use of grant funds.
If you answered “yes” to the question “Does the application include partner organisation(s) from the private sector who will be involved in the NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR-funded research activities?”, you must complete the Risk Assessment form and include this in the single, combined PDF.
Information required in other sections
Ensure you have included your Canada project lead applicant as a project co-lead (international) in the ‘Core team’ section. This role must be included with zero cost in the ‘Resources and cost justification’ section. Do not include any other Canada project team members in the ‘Core team’ section or in the ‘Project partners’ section, these should be detailed in the NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR budget and justification forms.
You must include the Canada collaborative team’s activity within this project within sections on ‘Vision’, ‘Approach’, ‘Applicant and team capability to deliver’, and any other relevant sections. Do not include costs associated with the Canada collaborative team in the ‘Resources and cost justification’ section.
Upload guidance
Upload a single PDF containing the required files detailed above, ensuring it is no larger than 8MB.
For the file name, use the Funding Service number the system gives to your application when you create an application, immediately followed by the words ‘Canada component’, then use the ‘Upload’ button.
Unless specifically requested, do not include any personal data within the attachment.
Once you have completed the textbox and uploaded the relevant documentation, mark this section as complete and move to the next one. If you do not have a Canada component on your application, you should enter ‘N/A’ and move to the next section.
Sensitive technology research area (Canada components only)
Word limit: 20
Does the proposed project aim to advance a sensitive technology research area?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
This section must be completed if your project has a Canada component. Please read the below guidance with care and ensure required documents for the Canada component of your project are uploaded within this section.
Please determine whether your proposed project aims to advance a sensitive technology area.
Within the textbox, paste the following question into the textbox and provide your answer (Yes or No): Does the grant application aim to advance a sensitive technology research area?
If you answered yes to this question, you must upload as a combined, single PDF an attestation form for each researcher who will have a named role in the NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR grant application (that is, applicant, co-applicants and collaborators, including the UK project lead and any others who will be directly involved in the NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR research activities).
Upload guidance
Upload a single PDF containing the required files detailed above, ensuring it is no larger than 8MB.
For the file name, use the Funding Service number the system gives to your application when you create an application, immediately followed by the words ‘STRA form’, then use the ‘Upload’ button.
Unless specifically requested, do not include any personal data within the attachment.
Once you have completed the textbox and uploaded the relevant documentation, mark this section as complete and move to the next one. If you do not have a Canada component on your application, or you answered ‘No’ within this section, you should enter ‘N/A’ and move to the next section.
Project partners
Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.
A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project, or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.
Add the following project partner details:
- the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
- the project partner contact name and email address
- the type of contribution (direct or indirect) and its monetary value
If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Data management and sharing
Word limit: 500
How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes, through liaising with the appropriate data centre NERC data policy.
Indicate:
- which NERC data centre is required to archive the data
- whether the total volume of data is likely to be larger than 1TB
- any other detail on how you will comply with NERC data policy
- requirements of the proposed sensing system or capability on current digital research infrastructure (including data and compute)
- how data accessibility for both private and public end users will be enhanced
Facilities
Word limit: 500
Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
If you will need to use a facility, follow your proposed facility’s normal access request procedures. Ensure you have prior agreement so that if you are offered funding, they will support the use of their facility on your project.
For each requested facility you will need to provide the:
- name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 42KB)
- proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list
- confirmation you have their agreement where required
Facilities should only be named if they are on the facility information list above. If you will not need to use a facility, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.
Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessment of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.
You will be asked about:
- which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to
- who you intend to collaborate with and how
- if your project requires an export control licence
Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.
