Advancing atmospheric and aerial autonomy (Grant)

Apply for proof-of-concept funding to develop, integrate, deploy, and demonstrate innovative autonomous solutions for atmospheric science or autonomous aerial systems for environmental applications. Projects must deliver demonstrator capability, high-quality environmental data, and pathways towards wider use and adoption. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding. The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be £300,000 up to £1 million. NERC will fund 100% of the FEC. Projects must start by 1 February 2027. Demand management Demand management is not currently being applied to this funding opportunity. However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity. Aim The aim of this funding opportunity is to strengthen the future environmental observing capability of the UK through the development, integration, deployment and demonstration of innovative autonomy, sensing, instrumentation and measurement capabilities. A major focus of this funding opportunity is the future of atmospheric observing capability. More adaptable and sustainable emerging atmospheric science delivery models including autonomous technology are creating significant opportunities to deliver environmental science in more innovative and sustainable ways. Through this investment we aim to accelerate the transition of promising technologies into deployable capability that can support future atmospheric observations, environmental monitoring and scientific discovery. This funding opportunity also builds on opportunities identified through the Net Zero Aerial Capability (NZArC) programme, supporting the development and deployment of autonomous aerial systems and associated capabilities across a broader range of environmental applications. We are seeking projects that can rapidly translate existing technologies, platforms, sensors, instrumentation, measurement systems and expertise into deployable capability that delivers lasting benefit for the environmental science community. We encourage applications from across the UK research and innovation community. We welcome teams that combine environmental science expertise with engineering, robotics, autonomy, sensing, instrumentation, software, data science, operational or commercial expertise where this strengthens the proposed capability. Scope Through this funding opportunity we will fund projects that develop and demonstrate: • innovative autonomous sensing, instrumentation and measurement capabilities that advance atmospheric science (approximately 50% of funding available) • autonomous aerial systems (UAS), sensing technologies, instrumentation and measurement systems for environmental applications (approximately 50% of funding available) Projects may include the development, integration, deployment or demonstration of platforms, sensors, instrumentation, measurement systems, autonomy, software, data systems or combinations of these where they contribute to environmental observing capability. Further detail is provided below. Autonomous solutions for atmospheric science We are interested in the future of atmospheric observing capability and the role that emerging autonomous technologies, sensing systems, instrumentation and measurement approaches can play in supporting atmospheric science. These do not need to be based on aerial platforms. Applications may include, but are not limited to: • autonomous observational systems • distributed sensing networks • mobile or fixed monitoring platforms • autonomous measurement approaches • sensing technologies • scientific instrumentation • measurement systems and architectures • calibration and validation approaches • technologies that improve the collection, processing or exploitation of atmospheric data • systems that strengthen future atmospheric observing capability. Autonomous aerial systems for environmental applications We are interested in the role that autonomous aerial systems, sensing technologies, instrumentation and data systems can play in supporting environmental science and environmental monitoring. Projects in this area must have UAS as a central component of the proposed approach. Applications may include, but are not limited to: • environmental monitoring and assessment • ecosystem observation • environmental forecasting and prediction • natural hazard monitoring • atmospheric observations • terrestrial environments • freshwater environments • coastal and marine environments Supporting technologies such as sensors, instrumentation, autonomy software, communications systems and data systems may form part of a project,

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible . Who is eligible to apply You can apply if you are based at an eligible UK research organisation, including: • academic researchers of any career stage • research and technical staff, including engineers, technicians and specialists • multidisciplinary teams combining environmental science, engineering, robotics, data science or related disciplines Projects should demonstrate meaningful collaboration with organisations involved in the development, deployment, or application of autonomous systems and sensing technologies. We strongly encourage collaboration with industry and other non-academic stakeholders, participating as project partners and collaborators, where this strengthens the proposed work, in line with supporting the development and deployment of innovative technologies. Who is not eligible to apply You cannot apply if: • you are not based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding as the project lead • your organisation does not meet UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) eligibility requirements International researchers International researchers and organisations may participate in projects where they provide expertise, capabilities or collaborations that strengthen the proposed work. International collaborators should be included as project partners. Funding is not available through this funding opportunity for international project co-lead costs and international organisations are expected to support their own participation. Where an international project co-lead (international) role is included in the application, you should enter zero requested costs and describe the collaborator’s contribution to the project. You should ensure that any international participation complies with UKRI guidance and the requirements of this funding opportunity. Equality, diversity and inclusion We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers. We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes: • career breaks • support for people with caring responsibilities • flexible working • alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Click here to start your application on the UKRI Funding Service https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1341/apply/1369 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.Before applying, we encourage you to attend the webinar for potential applicants. See further details, including registration information, in the ‘Additional information’ section.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. 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.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: • how applicants use the Funding Service • how research offices use the Funding Service • how reviewers use the Funding Service Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. References References sh