We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The 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 lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
This funding opportunity is by invitation only. When received, please click on the invitation link to start your application.
- 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. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the Funding Service to enable you to apply to this opportunity, you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
- 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.
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 may 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
AHRC must receive your application by 14 October 2025 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 the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
Personal data
Processing personal data
AHRC, 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.
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email infrastructure@ahrc.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
- the application is an invited resubmission
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 institution(s) hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond any 20% FEC contribution. UKRI advises reviewers and panel members not to consider the level of matched host institution funding as a factor on which to base funding recommendations. Any project partners are expected to contribute to the project, either with cash or in-kind contributions.
Publication of outcomes
AHRC as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity.
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
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.
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 the proposed infrastructure?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how the proposed infrastructure will:
- enable high quality and important research
- support innovation in research
- be of international importance
- enhance the UK’s research and innovation capabilities through local and or regional activity
- work closely with the central programme delivery hub, infrastructure centre, digitisation hub projects and the wider consortium to deliver DiSSCo UK
- enable the programme as a whole to be responsive to national priorities, to ensure it meets the strategic aims of UKRI and the UK Government
- provide an interface between the programme and the wider UK landscape, including other UKRI digital research infrastructures, and initiatives like the National Data Library
You should show how your proposed infrastructure (such as the catalysis centre) will help to deliver the strategic objectives of DiSSCo UK, explain why it is a critical component of the programme, and outline how it interacts with the other programme functions and the wider strategic landscape.
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: 2,750
What are your plans to manage and deliver the proposed infrastructure?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
We expect you to show how your approach includes:
- a credible management plan including strategic and operational matters
- details of governance
- feasibility of the project plan including a work plan, milestones, and deliverables in the form of a Gantt chart or similar
- identification of risks and appropriate mitigation in the form of key performance indicators (KPIs) to determine the delivery of outputs and outcomes
- identification of how accessibility and inclusiveness have been incorporated into the design of the project
- plans for operational sustainability and legacy beyond the end of UKRI funding. These could include cost recovery models, securing additional funding, development or expansion after the initial period of funding
- flexibility and adaptability embedded into its approach, ensuring it can both maximise opportunities for innovation and respond effectively to programme needs as DiSSCo UK evolves over ten years
- a detailed and thought through plan for how the Catalysis Centre will work with the Central Programme Delivery Hub and Infrastructure Centre to successfully operationalise any innovations in digitisation workflows and technologies
- the ability to work with the digitisation hubs to support any organic innovation in digitisation workflows that occur through the projects, and to be responsive to their needs
- a clear plan demonstrating how other organisations in the wider DiSSCo UK consortium and the wider UK research sector will be brought into work of the Catalysis Centre as the programme develops, whilst ensuring a critical mass is retained at the centre
Your project plan should consist of a comprehensive plan for the first two to three years, an indicative outline plan for the two-three years following that first phase, and a set of broader strategic objectives for the remainder of the programme.
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.
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word limit: 1,650
Why are you the right team to deliver and manage the proposed infrastructure?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how your team, have:
- the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage)
- the right balance of skills and expertise
- the appropriate leadership and management skills and your approach to develop others
- contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
- is capable of recruiting and managing the specialist team required to deliver the catalysis centre, including specialist and technical staff
- demonstrates a commitment to EDI in recruitment, team development, and project culture
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 R4RI modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.
Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (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 to 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 below. You should 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).
You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word limit: 500
What are the ethical and RRI 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 or responsible research and innovation considerations
- how you will manage these considerations
- how the catalysis centre will identify and manage any potential ethical considerations
Potential ethical considerations include the following
- the exploitation of natural science collections (NSC) data for commercial purposes
- the balance of the competing priorities of open science and commercial opportunities
- the exploitation of data on rare, endangered, or commercially valuable species, which may pose a risk to conservation efforts (for example, through poaching, habitat disturbance, or illegal trade)
- the development and exploitation of AI technologies using NSC data. The colonial provenance and acquisition of the original specimens, including contested ownership or lack of provenance data
- whether and how benefits from the catalysis centre will be shared with originating communities or countries, particularly where specimen s have colonial origins
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Resources and cost justification
Word limit: 1,100
What will you need to deliver and manage the proposed infrastructure and how much will it cost?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Justify the application’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 consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
- all facilities and infrastructure costs
- if applicable, disposal or decommissioning costs
- all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’
- if applicable, subscription costs
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.
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
Driving Research, Innovation and Economic Growth
Word limit: 1,650
How will the proposed catalysis centre support the delivery of DiSSCo UK by driving research and innovation?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
- details of how the catalysis centre will accelerate digitisation rates for entomological and botanical collections through innovation in workflows and technologies (such as AI and robotics)
- an outline of how the centre will innovate in digitisation workflows and technologies for other collections types (including but not limited to zoological, geological, palaeontological, and spirit collections), ensuring that they become suitable for mass digitisation as DiSSCo UK develops
- how the centre will support the development of a publication solution for geological collections, ensuring they can be aggregated on GBIF by the end of the programme
- an outline of how the centre will deliver a step-change in the exploitation of NSC data for research as the programme develops, through innovating in new technologies and tools that make use of collections data (including AI; LLMs and Knowledge Graphs)
- an outline of how the centre plans to leverage the potential economic and commercial opportunities of NSC data to drive economic growth, as the programme develops
- a plan for how the centre will work with academia and industry partners to exploit the benefits of NSC data
- details of how the centre will explore opportunities to leverage additional funding, and generate revenue through commercial applications of the data, to support research, innovation and the wider programme
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
References may be included within this section.
