ESRC React Awards (pilot): outline

Open: 7 April 2026
Close: 8 October 2025
Budget: £50,000-£100,000
Research Outputs to be actioned within 6 months

ESRC launches this funding opportunity to support UK policymakers and frontline public service practitioners with timely, high-quality social science research. Eligible UK research organisations, in partnership with a UK public sector body that can action the research outputs within six months, can apply. These awards aim to address urgent societal and economic challenges through a streamlined, responsive application process enabling rapid deployment of research findings. This pilot welcomes applications from diverse researchers at any career stage and emphasizes co-production with public sector partners to ensure maximum impact and utility.

Innovate UK Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Funding call

Open: 26 May 2026
Close: 15 July 2026
Project duration: 3 months
Budget: £35,000

The Accelerated Knowledge Transfer scheme offers UK businesses and UK registered Knowledge Bases (such as higher/further education institutions, RTOs, or Catapults) funding to collaborate on rapid, high-impact innovation projects. The programme is designed to accelerate the evaluation or development of a promising new concept. Priority is given to projects aligning with the UK’s six key industrial sectors (Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, and Life Sciences) though novel research projects partnering with high-growth-potential businesses are also eligible.

Scotland

Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary has announced a new £14 million Future Farming Investment Scheme that will open in July 2025, offering flexible capital grants of up to £20,000 at 100% funding to help farmers and crofters invest in efficiency and climate-friendly farming practices. The scheme prioritises support for new entrants, young farmers, small farms and tenants, while the Scottish Government continues its annual £600 million investment in agriculture through various support programs, demonstrating Scotland’s commitment to sustainable farming and supporting the next generation of agricultural workers.

England

England’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reopened its Capital Grants program with £150 million in funding available to farmers and rural businesses for environmental improvements including hedgerow planting, habitat restoration, water quality measures, and natural flood management. The program introduces new funding limits (£25,000 for water quality, air quality, and natural flood management; £35,000 for boundaries, trees and orchards) to ensure fairer access across more farm businesses, while adding four new grant categories covering woodland assessment, wildfire risk management, stone wall repairs, and educational farm visits. Applications are processed on a first-come basis with over 50% of funding already allocated as of July 2025, and the program will close once funds are exhausted before reopening in 2026 with further improvements.

Innovate UK – New antimicrobial resistance (AMR) treatments UK funding call

Closes: 2 February 2025, 12pm

FSS: Literature Review on AMR Genes in Feed Additives

FSS seeks a supplier to conduct a literature review examining the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in bacteria used as feed additives, plus develop a decision tree to support evaluation of potential AMR genes in feed additive trial applications.