Deadline: 16-Sep-2025
Applications are now open for the Digitise UK Natural Science Collection Grant Programme. This is the first major funding initiative focused on the mass digitisation of natural science collections (NSCs) in the UK. The programme aims to help build the DiSSCo UK research infrastructure, unlocking the power of NSCs to drive research in climate change and biodiversity loss, while strengthening the UK collections sector.
The grant will support the establishment of digitisation hubs across all four nations of the UK. These hubs will carry out large-scale digitisation of botanical and entomological specimens, providing leadership and guidance to other collection organisations through a hub-and-nodes model. The initiative balances high-volume digitisation with long-term capacity building across the sector.
Applicants must propose projects that deliver digitisation at scale and pace, demonstrate efforts to support future digitisation capacity, and involve institutions that hold significant NSCs. The programme is designed to accelerate scientific research and innovation through improved digital access to natural science data.
A total fund of £6.5 million is available, with individual awards ranging from £200,000 to £2.5 million. Projects can last up to two years and must be completed by 31 March 2028.
Eligible applicants include UK-based higher education providers, research institutes, public sector research establishments, NHS bodies, independent research organisations, and Catapult centres. The project lead must be based at a UK organisation eligible for AHRC funding. Institutions with major NSCs may also participate as co-leads or subcontractors, regardless of their AHRC funding eligibility.
For more information, visit UKRI.
