FUNDING
NUCNet provides funding to advance the understanding and deployment of NUCs in the UK, strengthen community engagement, and support impactful research. We have three types of fund that NUCNet members can apply for:
Interdisciplinary research grants | Career Development top-up fund | School-related research top-up fund
Click links above to jump to funding details
All funds are open to applications
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At NUCNet, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment through an effective Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) framework that benefits our community.
At the application stage for all funds, applicants will be asked to complete our EDI survey. We ask diversity monitoring questions to understand the diversity profile of our awardees. NUCNet will share this data as part of our post-award reporting process to BBRSC. EDI survey responses are anonymous and not shared with assessment panels.
The data collected will also be used to help NUCNet identify areas for improvement as well as understand the effectiveness of our procedures in eliminating discrimination. Data collection will be carried out in line with relevant Data Protection laws and the University of Southampton’s Data Protection Policy.
For any funding queries, please contact the NUCNet Manager via the contact page on this website
Interdisciplinary research grants (£2000 to £10,000)
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS –
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 2 SEPTEMBER 2026
NUCNet interdisciplinary research grants are intended to support projects that seek to enhance the utilisation of novel and underutilised crops in UK production systems. Projects should seek to address barriers to the adoption of these crops across the food or feed value chains or highlight benefits of including these crops in farming systems by working across disciplines or stakeholders.
NUCNet is pleased to offer NUCNet members, based in the UK, up to £10,000 (funded at 80% fEC) from the BBSRC.
All funding requests will be considered and ranked based on their merit and several criteria.
Funding summary
Eligible project types:
- Generation of preliminary data for larger research bids
- Projects interacting with industry
- Projects interacting with schools or NGOs
- Public engagement
The maximum award is £10,000 with funds awarded at 80% full economic costs (fEC), i.e., £8,000. Funding will not cover cost of equipment, article processing/publication charges (covered by UKRI open access block grants), or international travel.
We do not expect all projects to include an industrial partner, but you will be expected to explain potential industry interest in your idea. If you wish to partner with industry, we expect industry to make at least a 40% matched contribution (of the 80% fEC rate). This industry contribution can be cash, in-kind or a combination of both. Projects with industry co-funding will be prioritised if they score the same as another project without industry co-funding.
Key Dates
Deadline for applications: 17:00 GMT Wednesday 2 September 2026
Application, guidance and FAQ
Career development top-up fund (up to £1000)
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
NUCNet Career Development top-up funding is intended to support short secondments or research exchanges to academic institutions, NGOs, parliament or similar and and attendance on courses related to Professional Development that develop ECRs research identity and enhance their personal development.
NUCNet is pleased to OFFER NUCNet ECR members, based in the UK, up to £1000 from BBSRC.
All funding requests will be considered and ranked based on their merit and several criteria.
Funding summary
This award may be used for :
- Short secondments or researcher exchanges to academic institutes, NGOs, parliament or similar. Purpose of exchange or secondment should align with the goals of NUCNet (see https://novelcropnetwork.ac.uk/about-nucnet/). Max visit duration is 3 months.
- Training course or workshop attendance.
Requests for up to £1000 can be made to NUCNet at any time during the funding award period for e.g. registration, economy travel, accommodation. Additional funds can be made available to cover childcare* or other caring responsibilities. *Additional childcare costs incurred as a result of the activity, rather than ongoing baseline costs.
Priority will be given where this fund is a top-up fund and is not the only source of funding (commensurate with career stage and existing funding), although this will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Key Dates
There is no application deadline. This is a rolling call, available throughout the 3-year NUCNet grant duration. Applications will be reviewed on a bimonthly basis by the Network Leadership Team. Submit well in advance, we recommend at least 4 months before travel, but not more than 9 months before the expected travel date.
Application and guidance
RESEARCH
Coming Up Soon – list of awarded projects, useful links and research findings
