Deadline: 28-Nov-2025
The HSDS Small Grants Programme supports innovation in heritage science and conservation research through Funding Stream 2, enabling collaboration with the Hartree technical team to create customized Virtual Research Environment applications and workflows.
Operating as part of AHRC’s Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) programme, HSDS provides essential research infrastructure that helps preserve and enhance the country’s cultural heritage through the application of advanced scientific techniques. Heritage science, as defined by AHRC, spans a wide range of disciplines—from archaeology and conservation to robotics, materials science, art history, and computer science—working collectively to ensure the understanding and protection of heritage assets for future generations.
The HSDS Small Grants Programme aims to unlock new opportunities for innovation by funding projects that transform how research data in heritage science is managed, accessed, and utilised.
Funding Stream 2 of the programme specifically supports collaborations between researchers and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Centre to develop tailored Virtual Research Environment (VRE) applications and workflows. This stream enables awardees to leverage the Hartree Centre’s expertise in research software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing to create advanced digital tools that support heritage science research.
Projects under Funding Stream 2 are encouraged to develop new or improved Virtual Research Environment solutions that enhance how researchers process, store, and interpret data. Potential areas of focus may include technical feasibility studies, proof-of-concept application builds, data processing pipelines, automation workflows, or the adaptation of open-source tools for specific research needs. Applicants may also explore the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning into workflows to increase efficiency and insight generation. Throughout their projects, participants will work closely with the Hartree Centre team to co-develop and strengthen digital infrastructure supporting the heritage science community.
Each project under this funding stream can receive up to £15,000, covering the full economic cost of the work, including direct and indirect expenses. The grants are designed to support projects of up to 12 months in duration, offering flexibility for both development and testing phases. Applicants from UK-based organisations are eligible to apply, subject to due diligence checks prior to the release of funds.
Eligible project leads and co-leads must hold active employment contracts with their submitting organisations for the full project duration. While a project lead can only head one proposal, they may contribute as co-lead to other applications without restriction. However, individuals already involved with the main HSDS grant are not eligible to apply for additional funding under this scheme.
Through this collaborative initiative, the HSDS Small Grants Programme and the Hartree Centre aim to strengthen the UK’s capacity for digital research innovation in heritage science. By combining scientific, technical, and cultural expertise, the programme fosters the development of advanced tools that will support the preservation, understanding, and accessibility of the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
For more information, visit Heritage Science Data Service.