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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant, 'Aviation’s non-CO2 impacts on the climate 2025', aims to fund collaborative research focused on the underpinning science of aviation's non-carbon dioxide (non-CO2) impacts. The goal is to reduce scientific uncertainties and identify effective mitigation options, ultimately informing industry and government policy decisions. It is SECTOR-SPECIFIC, targeting the aviation, environmental science, and climate research sectors. Target Recipients This opportunity is open to UK research organizations eligible for NERC funding, including research groups and individuals at any career stage. The primary objective is to advance scientific understanding and develop actionable insights into a complex environmental challenge. Geographic Scope Applicants must be based at a UK research organization. Key Filtering Criteria To be considered for this grant, your project must: - Focus specifically on aviation's non-CO2 climate impacts. - Be conducted by a UK research organization or individual eligible for NERC funding. - Align with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) one to four (early-stage research and development). Grant Frequency and Program Context This specific funding opportunity is part of a wider 'Aviation’s non-CO2 Impact on the Climate programme'. While this is a distinct call, it is anticipated that future NERC funding opportunities under this same program will be released later in 2025, indicating a recurring program with phased funding calls.

Financial Structure

The 'Aviation’s non-CO2 impacts on the climate 2025' grant offers specific financial parameters: Funding Amounts and Limitations

Total Fund: The overall program has a total fund of £2,125,000 for this funding opportunity.
Maximum Award per Project: The maximum full economic cost (FEC) for any single project is £354,375.

Funding Rate and Co-financing

Funding Rate: The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) of your project. This means applicants are expected to cover the remaining 20%.
Co-financing Requirement: Projects are expected to cover 20% of the FEC. Additionally, any project partners or collaborators (including international collaborators, UK partners not based at approved organizations, or those from business/financial sectors) are generally expected to fund their own involvement. Only minor incidental expenses (e.g., some travel costs) may be funded for project partners.
Industrial Partners: Projects that include funded industrial partners may be eligible for the specific 'Non-CO2 programme' delivered by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme, which is part of the broader research initiative.

Eligible and Ineligible Costs

Eligible Costs: The grant will fund facilities costs. Smaller items of equipment (under £25,000 individually) can be requested under 'Consumables (other directly incurred costs)'. Costs associated with reasonable adjustments for disability are also eligible if they directly increase due to project work. Travel and subsistence for required workshops and cross-programme meetings should be included in your application. Resources for preparing data for archiving are also eligible.
Ineligible Costs: The grant explicitly states it will not fund PhD studentship costs or cruise costs. Equipment costing £25,000 and over individually is also not funded through this opportunity.

Payment and Reporting

Payment Mechanisms: For data archiving, NERC will pay the data centre directly. Other costs are funded through the FEC model.
Financial Reporting: Successful applicants will be required to report research outcomes on Researchfish annually, for up to five years post-grant end, in line with standard UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) terms and conditions for funding.

Indirect Cost Policies

The funding is based on the full economic cost (FEC) model, with 80% funded, implying that indirect costs are accounted for within this model.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the 'Aviation’s non-CO2 impacts on the climate 2025' grant, applicants must meet the following hard criteria: Organizational Eligibility

Eligible Organization Types: You must be based at a UK research organization eligible for NERC funding. This primarily includes universities and other recognized research institutions in the UK. The grant also welcomes applications from research groups and individuals affiliated with such eligible organizations.
Geographic Location: The lead organization must be UK-based.
Consortium/Partnership Requirements: While not strictly mandatory for eligibility, the grant highly encourages multidisciplinary research and collaborations with other UK organizations. Project partners, including international collaborators or UK partners not based at approved organizations (e.g., from business or financial sectors), must generally fund their own involvement. Only minor incidental expenses (like some travel costs) for project partners may be funded. Projects with funded industrial partners may be eligible for the related Non-CO2 programme delivered by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Programme.

Individual Eligibility

Role Requirement: You must be in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements set by NERC.
Career Stage: Applications are welcomed from individuals at any career stage, provided they meet NERC eligibility criteria.
Application Limit: An individual may be involved in no more than two applications submitted to this funding opportunity, and only one of these can be as project lead.

Exclusion Criteria

Active members of the program's Expert Advisory Group (EAG) are not eligible to apply for funding through this specific opportunity.

Inclusivity and Diversity Considerations The funders are committed to equality of opportunity and encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers, supporting various personal circumstances such as career breaks, caring responsibilities, flexible working, and alternative working patterns. Disability and accessibility support is available for applicants.

Application Process

Applying for the 'Aviation’s non-CO2 impacts on the climate 2025' grant involves a structured online process: Application Platform and Process

Platform: Applications must be submitted through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service. The Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system cannot be used for this opportunity.
Lead Applicant: The project lead is responsible for initiating and completing the application on the Funding Service. Only the lead research organization can submit the application to UKRI.
Team Contribution: While the project lead manages the submission, all team members and project partners are expected to contribute to the application content.
Organization Registration: Ensure your organization is registered on the UKRI Funding Service. Allow at least 10 working days for new organization registration.
Submission Steps: The process involves confirming you are the project lead, signing in/creating a Funding Service account, answering questions directly in text boxes, and allowing time for your research office to check and submit the final application to UKRI.

Application Deadlines and Timeline

Publication Date: 22 July 2025
Opening Date: 1 August 2025, 9:00 AM UK time
Closing Date: 9 October 2025, 4:00 PM UK time (This is a firm deadline; applications cannot be submitted after this time. Be aware of your organization's internal deadlines).
Project Start Date: Projects must begin by no later than 1 March 2026.
Project Duration: Projects can last for a maximum of 26 months.

Required Documentation and Materials (Application Sections) Your application will require detailed responses in specific sections: - Summary (Word limit: 550): A plain English summary suitable for public release, describing context, challenge, aims, objectives, and benefits. - Core Team: List key team members and their roles (Project Lead, Project Co-Lead, Specialist, etc.). - Vision (Word limit: 1,000): Outline your project's goals, its importance, potential for new knowledge, timeliness, and expected impacts. - Approach (Word limit: 1,000): Detail your methodology, project design, feasibility, risk management, and how outputs will be translated into outcomes. Include a project plan with milestones and timelines (e.g., Gantt chart). - Applicant and Team Capability to Deliver (Word limit: 1,650): Demonstrate relevant experience, skills, leadership, and contribution to the research environment using the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format. An optional 500-word 'Additions' section is available for context (e.g., career breaks). - Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) (Word limit: 500): Address ethical implications, management plans, and environmental/societal impacts. - Project Partners: Details on collaborating organizations, their contributions (direct or in-kind), and monetary value. - Facilities (Word limit: 500): Details if the project requires the support of research council facilities, including prior agreement and costs. - Data Management and Sharing (Word limit: 500): A data management plan complying with UKRI's data sharing policy and NERC's data policy. - Resources and Cost Justification (Word limit: 2,000): Justify all requested resources, particularly costly ones like staff, significant travel, and facilities. (No line-by-line breakdown needed, but ensure resources are appropriate and justified). Submission Format

Questions are answered in text boxes on the Funding Service.
Visual elements (images < 5MB, JPEG, PNG, etc.) are allowed for important visual information, but should not contain sentences, paragraphs, or tables.
References should be included within the word limits of the respective sections; hyperlinks are permitted for reference information but not to extend the application content.
Generative AI tools are permitted for application preparation, but caution is advised.

Review Process and Feedback

Assessment Process: Applications are reviewed by an independent external assessment panel against the four core areas (Vision, Approach, Applicant & Team, Ethics & RRI). The programme expert advisory group (EAG) recommends a balanced portfolio to the funders, who make the final funding decision.
Timescale: Assessment aims to be completed within three months of the closing date. Feedback will be provided within six months of the closing date.

Post-Award Requirements

Reporting: Successful applicants must report research outcomes annually on Researchfish for up to five years post-grant end.
Meetings: Project leads are expected to attend a cross-programme event (date TBC) and annual programme meetings to present results. They will also work with the programme coordinator and EAG throughout the project.
Additional Reporting: Projects may be required to provide additional information for monitoring and evaluation, potentially for reporting to DBT for future programme evaluation.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications for the 'Aviation’s non-CO2 impacts on the climate 2025' grant will be assessed by an independent external panel against four key areas: 1. Vision Assessors will look for evidence that your proposed work: - Is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond its field(s). - Has the potential to advance current understanding or generate new knowledge, thinking, or discovery. - Is timely given current trends, context, and needs. - Demonstrates impact on world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment. - Clearly indicates how it fits the scope of this funding opportunity, specifically which of the three themes it addresses. - Identifies potential direct or indirect benefits and the beneficiaries. 2. Approach This section assesses how you will deliver your proposed work, specifically looking for an approach that: - Is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives and align with the grant's scope. - Is feasible, comprehensively identifying and managing potential risks. - Utilizes a clearly written and transparent methodology (if applicable). - Summarizes previous work and describes how it will be built upon and progressed. - Will maximize the translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts. - Shows that your (and your team's) research environment will contribute to the project's success. - Demonstrates access to appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment. - Includes a project plan with milestones and timelines (e.g., Gantt chart). 3. Applicant and Team Capability to Deliver This criterion evaluates why you and your team are the right fit for the project. Assessors look for: - Relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work. - The right balance of skills and expertise to cover all aspects of the project. - Appropriate leadership and management skills and an approach to develop others. - Contributions to developing a positive research environment and wider community. Applicants should use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format, focusing on contributions to new ideas/tools, development of others, and contributions to the wider research/innovation community and societal benefit. 4. Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) This section requires you to demonstrate that you have: - Identified and evaluated relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations. - A clear plan for managing these considerations. - Considered the potential impact of the proposed research on the environment or society. - Named any bodies from which approval is required and indicated the status of such approvals (in place or indicative timeframe). - Identified legal and ethical considerations for data collection/storage, including consent, confidentiality, anonymization, security, and strategies to enable data re-use. Cross-Cutting Themes and Competitive Advantage

Multidisciplinary research and collaborations are highly encouraged.
Coverage of multiple themes (aerosol-radiation/cloud interactions, alternative aviation fuels, ISSR forecasting/modelling) and industrial partnership is encouraged and may enhance competitiveness.
Projects focused on civil aviation (passenger or cargo flight) are prioritized.
Alignment with UKRI's open research policy, NERC data policy, and responsible research practices (reducing harm or enhancing benefit to the environment and society).
Compliance with Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) principles for international collaborations.

Compliance & Special Requirements

This grant emphasizes adherence to specific policies, ethical standards, and broader program objectives: Regulatory Compliance Requirements

Open Research Policy: Adherence to UKRI's open research policy is mandatory, including principles of responsible research.
Data Policy: Compliance with NERC's data policy and UKRI's data sharing policy is required, including the submission of a data management plan.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I): Applicants must demonstrate how their projects will comply with UKRI's approach to TR&I, identifying potential risks and mitigation controls, especially for international collaborations.

Ethical Standards and Responsible Research

Ethical Considerations: Applicants must identify and evaluate all relevant ethical or Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) considerations related to the proposed work and outline how these will be managed.
Environmental and Societal Impact: Consideration of the potential impact of the proposed research on the environment or society is a key requirement.
Responsible Research Practices: All NERC grant holders are expected to adopt responsible research practices as set out in the NERC responsible business statement, which focuses on reducing harm or enhancing benefit to the natural environment, local community, and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Data Protection and Privacy

Data Handling: Personal data collected will be handled in line with UK data protection legislation and managed securely. Applicants must be aware that NERC will share application and personal information with program partners (Department for Transport, Department for Business and Trade, Aerospace Technology Institute) and the expert advisory group for assessment purposes.

Intellectual Property Policies

The grant materials do not explicitly detail specific intellectual property policies; however, standard UKRI terms and conditions for funding would apply.

Technical Standards and Quality Expectations

Technology Readiness Levels (TRL): Projects should be focused on TRL one to four, indicating early-stage research and development.
Quality Standards: Proposed work must demonstrate excellent quality and importance.
Scientific Accuracy: Research must aim to improve understanding and reduce significant uncertainties regarding aviation's non-CO2 impacts.

Key Focus Areas and Exclusions

Primary Focus: The core focus is on the underpinning science of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts.
Specific Non-CO2 Impacts: This includes contrail cirrus, nitrous oxides, water vapour, and particulates like soot and sulphur.
Mitigation Actions: Research should also identify and develop mitigating actions, such as technology development, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), hydrogen aircraft (direct combustion and fuel cells), contrail prediction/avoidance, and reducing aromatic content of kerosene.
Civil Aviation: Projects must focus on civil aviation (passenger or cargo flight).
Exclusion: Research solely on aviation CO2 emissions should not be undertaken, unless it directly contributes to understanding a non-CO2 issue.

Thematic Areas (Must cover at least one)

Theme One: Increasing the understanding of aerosol-radiation and aerosol-cloud interactions (e.g., impact of sulphur-cloud and soot-cloud interactions, implications of reduced sulphur emissions, aerosol speciation, sulphate-liquid cloud droplet interactions).
Theme Two: Alternative aviation fuels (e.g., impact of soot from alternative fuels, fuel aromatic content changes, understanding hydrogen as a fuel, other fuel/engine changes).
Theme Three: Forecasting and modelling Ice Super Saturated Regions (ISSRs) (e.g., improving ISSR/contrail formation modelling, improving weather forecasts for ISSRs).

General Requirements

Concordat and Technician Commitment: Applicants are encouraged to follow the principles of the 'Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers' and the 'Technician Commitment'.
Modern Slavery Act: UKRI is committed to the principles of the 'Modern Slavery Act 2015'.
COVID-19 Impact: Reviewers will consider the unequal impacts of COVID-19 related disruptions on applicants' capability and career development.

Grant Details