Scope

The government is committed to delivering greener transport and supporting the missions to kickstart economic growth and to make Britain a clean energy superpower. Aviation has both CO2 emissions and non-CO2 climate impacts and recent scientific research shows that the non-CO2 impacts of aviation could be greater than the impact from CO2 emissions. Whilst the impact of CO2 emissions can be quantified, academic research shows that there continues to be significant uncertainty regarding aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and there is a need to improve our understanding, and to identify and develop policy options and measures to mitigate these impacts.

This research programme, in partnership with the DfT and the DBT focuses on aviation’s non-CO2 impacts.

The programme seeks to establish how the non-CO2 impacts interact with climate over time, and how to mitigate their impacts with the view to informing industry funding and government policy and investment decisions by primarily focusing on two aspects:

• improving our understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and reducing the current scientific uncertainties. This includes contrail cirrus, nitrous oxides, and other non-CO2 emissions such as water vapour and particulates like soot and sulphur
• identifying and developing mitigating actions to address those impacts. This includes but is not limited to technology development, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen aircraft (both direct combustion and fuel cells), contrail prediction and avoidance, reducing aromatic content of kerosene and carbon pricing

For more information on the background of this funding opportunity, as well as information on the programme design, see the ‘Additional information’ section.

Themes

You must cover at least one of the three themes for this funding opportunity. Coverage of multiple themes and industrial partnership is encouraged. It must be clear in your application title which theme you are addressing. See the ‘Who is eligible to apply’ section for further information.

Your project should be focused on technology readiness levels (TRL) one to four.

You should not seek to apply to this funding opportunity to undertake research on aviation CO2 emissions, unless appropriate for the purposes of better understanding a non-CO2 issue.

Your project can be related to fossil fuel powered aircrafts, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) powered aircraft or zero-carbon emission aircraft, or a combination of all three. Your project will focus on civil aviation (passenger or cargo flight) and research in wider sectors where it is applicable to civil aviation.

Theme one: increasing the understanding of aerosol-radiation and aerosol-cloud interactions

Aircraft emit aerosols, such as soot and sulphur compounds, which influence atmospheric chemistry, cloud formation, and radiative forcing. Aerosols can have both warming and cooling effects, although significant uncertainties remain. Aerosols can also affect cloud formation, their properties, and lifespan, and impacts are not well understood due to the complex and variable nature of cloud physics and chemistry. Therefore, there is a need for further investigation to better understand the role of the underlying mechanisms of aerosol-cloud interaction and their impact on global climate. Note, for theme one we are not looking at the impact this has on contrails, rather to increase our understanding of aerosol-radiation and aerosol-cloud interactions.

Your project could include, but is not limited to:

• further research to reduce the uncertainty related to the estimates of the impact sulphur-cloud and soot-cloud interactions have on the climate
• further research to understand the implications of atmospheric chemistry, cloud formation, and radiative forcing resulting from reduced sulphur emissions from the tailpipe, and what this means for impacts on the climate
• further investigation into aerosol speciation in relation to the aerosol radiation interactions; how will the specific composition of aircraft emissions affect the background organic aerosols and therefore cloud interactions and impact on climate
• a study to reduce the uncertainties in the sulphate-liquid cloud droplet interactions and the consequent radiative impact through measurements and modelling
• further analysis of the mechanisms, including regional variation, which affect soot and sulphur emission cloud interactions

Theme two: alternative aviation fuels

Alternative fuels such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and hydrogen are currently being introduced as solutions to mitigate the climate impact of aviation. However, further investigation is needed to understand the impact these alternative fuels could have on reducing aviation’s non-CO2 impacts, including their role in the contrail formation process.

In addition, research has shown that using alternative jet fuels with higher aromatic content could increase soot emissions, which could play role in contrail formation. However, this may increase energy demands and CO2 production in the refining of the fuel.

Research in this area can provide valuable insights into cleaner combustion technologies, improve emissions modelling and air quality.

Your application to this theme should investigate the role of different fuels and different aromatic content, which could include but not limited to:

Understanding the impact of soot from alternative aviation fuels

This may include combustion characteristics, particle formation, and atmospheric interactions where soot may be minimal or absent. This could also include consideration of different future scenarios of low-to-no-soot regimes:

• understanding the role of soot in contrail formation compared to other potential ice nuclei, and whether measures to reduce soot would be effective in mitigating aviation’s non-CO2 impacts on the climate
• developing higher accuracy models to investigate the impact of low-to-no soot emissions on the climate through contrail formation, contrail properties and radiative forcing. You can use SAF, hydrotreated fuels or low soot combustors

Understanding fuel aromatic content changes

• a study of the trade-off in fuel properties as the aromatic content of fuel changes, and its viability for use in aviation. This could include understanding the potential climate benefit and trade-off between reducing aromatic content of jet fuel on contrail formation, as well as increased CO2 production in refineries through the hydrotreating process

Understanding hydrogen as a fuel

• undertaking studies to better assess the climate impact and trade-offs related to emissions from the direct use of hydrogen through fuel cells and combustion (including flight duration and altitude). For example, further studies related to the injection of water vapour from hydrogen fuel into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere region of the atmosphere, and modelling the formation of water vapour

Other fuel and engine changes

• a consideration of what changes could be made to jet fuel formulation (either within the current specification or by proposing changes) to alter the emissions profile in order to lower contrail formation and climate impact
• further consideration of the role of engine lubrication oil and other fugitive lubricants as ice nuclei versus other ambient aerosols and implications for contrail formation and impacts on climate

Understanding across different alternative aviation fuels

analysis of alternate fuels and strategies, incorporating different fuels, time horizons and technologies over time to understand non-CO2 impacts on the climate

Theme three: forecasting and modelling Ice Super Saturated Regions (ISSRs)

Ice Super Saturated Regions (ISSRs) are regions of the atmosphere characterised by relative humidity with respect to ice exceeding saturation, providing favourable conditions for the formation of cirrus clouds and contrails.

The appearance of ISSRs is common in the upper troposphere. Cirrus clouds, formed in these ISSRs, play a significant role in Earth’s climate by trapping radiation and affecting global temperature. These regions are critical for the formation of persistent contrail cirrus. The forecasting of these regions presents significant challenges, and further investigation is needed to understand the extension of ISSRs, their relative humidity, and modelling to improve forecasting approaches for mitigating aviation’s non-CO2 impacts. Accurately measuring and quantifying the extent of ISSRs, their relative humidity, and improving forecasting approaches present significant challenges. These challenges are primarily due to the limitations of current measurement tools, technologies and methodologies.

Your project may include real-world monitoring approaches and may cover some of the following. However, the scope is not limited to these sub-themes alone. You should be clear in your response what you are planning to address.

Improving modelling of ISSRs and contrail formation

• a detailed study to understand the current capabilities and limitations of accurately predicting ISSRs with the view to understanding the data requirements for better models
• a detailed study to develop a more accurate model to predict the likelihood of ISSRs forming with improved spatial and temporal accuracy (in order to increase the confidence and viability of adopting contrail mitigation)
• a detailed study to validate models predicting ISSRs and contrails through different observational measurements, such as use of satellite images to improve the accuracy of contrail formation forecasts
• a detailed study of contrails, including optical depth, ice crystal numbers and ice crystal size throughout a contrail’s lifetime to help with accuracy of contrail prediction and to better understand their climate impact

Improving weather forecasts

• a detailed study of higher resolution measurements of water vapour in the atmosphere to improve data to help with the accuracy of weather and ISSR forecasts
• a study to improve the use of satellite imagery for weather prediction enhancement through AI to identify contrails and increase accuracy of prediction and formation

Duration

The duration of this award is a maximum of 26 months.

Projects must start by no later than 1 March 2026.

Funding available

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £354,375.

We will fund 80% of the FEC (meaning £283,500), with the exception.

This funding opportunity sources its funds from the NERC budget.

We anticipate funding up to six projects. This is expected to be two projects under each theme although the programme expert advisory group (EAG) will make recommendations for a balanced portfolio to the funders, who will make the final funding decision.

It is anticipated that there will be a future NERC funding opportunity as part of this programme later in 2025. The scope and detail of this funding opportunity will be announced in due course.

What we will fund

We will fund facilities costs as part of this funding opportunity.

What we will not fund

We will not fund:

• PhD studentship costs
• cruise costs
• requests for equipment of £25,000 and over are not part of this funding opportunity. You should request smaller items of equipment (under £25,000 individually) under ‘Consumables (other directly incurred costs)’ in your application

Services and facilities

You can apply to use a facility or resource in your funding application.

You should discuss your application with the facility or service at least two months before the funding opportunity’s closing date to:

• discuss the proposed work in detail
• receive confirmation that they can provide the services required within the timeframe of the funding

The facility will provide a technical assessment that includes the calculated cost of providing the service. NERC services and facilities must be costed within the limits of the funding.

You should not submit the technical assessment with the application, but you must confirm you have received it.

For more information, see the NERC research grants and fellowships handbook.

Read the full list of NERC facilities that require a technical assessment.

High Performance Computing (HPC), and the large research facilities at Harwell have their own policies for access and costing.

Note the ARCHER2 service end date is 21 November 2026. HPC provision for ARCHER2 is not guaranteed after this date. Where you require HPC provision after November 2026, you are advised to explore alternative provisions such as other UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) provisions listed or commercial HPC services. Where you are seeking to use other UKRI provisions then you must adhere to the relevant access process. Where you are seeking to use commercial HPC services then the full cost of access to commercial HPC services must be included in your application.

UKRI provisions include:

• Using EPSRC facilities and resources
• NERC policy on access to high performance computing
• Isambard three tier two supercomputer led by University of Bristol

See also, Other HPC facilities that are available to UK researchers.

Supporting skills and talent

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

Trusted Research and Innovation

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how your proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where you can find additional support.

Data management

You must adhere to UKRI open research policy and NERC data policy and complete the ‘Data management and sharing’ question.

For details of data centres, see the NERC Environmental Data Service.

We will pay the data centre directly on behalf of the programme for archival and curation services, but you should ensure that you request sufficient resource to cover preparation of data for archiving by the research team. Additional services from the data centres, such as database development or a specialist in project data management during your project, will need to be discussed with the relevant data centre prior to submission, costs for additional services will need to be funded from your grant.

Responsible research

Through our funding processes, we seek to make a positive contribution to society and the environment. This is not just through research outputs and outcomes but through the way in which research is conducted and facilities managed.

All NERC grant holders are to adopt responsible research practices as set out in the NERC responsible business statement.

Responsible research is defined as reducing harm or enhancing benefit on the environment and society through effective management of research activities and facilities. Specifically, this covers:

• the natural environment
• the local community
• equality, diversity and inclusion

You should consider the responsible research context of your project, not the host institution as a whole. You should take action to enhance your responsible research approach where practical and reasonable.

We are running this funding opportunity on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

Watch our recording on how to apply for an opportunity in the Funding Service.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the project lead.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
   Allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service. We strongly suggest that if you are asking UKRI to add your organisation to the funding Service to enable you to apply to this funding opportunity, that you also create an organisation Administration Account. This will be needed to allow the acceptance and management of any grant that might be offered to you.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the ‘How to apply’ section on this Funding finder page.
4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)
• insert each new image on a new line
• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application may be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text
• tables
• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service
• how research offices use the Funding Service
• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

References should be included within the word limit of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors
• references are formatted as appropriate to your research
• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

We must receive your application by 9 October 2025 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time. Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data

NERC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

NERC, as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with programme partners so they can participate in the assessment of this funding opportunity:

• Department for Transport (DfT), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)
• the programme expert advisory group (EAG) who will advise the funders on a balanced portfolio of investments from the fundable projects

For more information on how DfT & DBT use personal information, visit:

• Personal information charter, Department for Transport
• Personal information charter, Department for Business and Trade
• Personal information, Aerospace Technology Institute

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email aviation@nerc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: Aviation non-CO2 second funding opportunity; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number.

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
• declaration of interest
• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
• conflict of interest for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Publication of outcomes

NERC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on What NERC has funded.

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers
• policymakers
• the public
• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context
• the challenge the project addresses
• aims and objectives
• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)
• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
• specialist
• grant manager
• professional enabling staff
• technician
• visiting researcher
• researcher co-lead (RcL)

Only list one individual as project leadt.

The project lead is responsible for setting up and completing the application process on the Funding Service.

UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Vision

Word limit: 1,000

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work:

• is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
• has the potential to advance current understanding, or generate new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area
• is timely given current trends, context, and needs
• impacts world-leading research, society, the economy, or the environment

Within this section we also expect you to:

• indicate clearly how your application fits the scope of this funding opportunity, specifically which theme or themes you are addressing
• identify the potential direct or indirect benefits and who the beneficiaries might be

References may be included within this section.

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Approach

Word limit: 1,000

How are you going to deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:

• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
• if applicable, uses a clearly written and transparent methodology
• if applicable, summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed
• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
• describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work

Within this section we also expect you to:

• demonstrate that it is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives, and in relation to the scope of this funding opportunity
• demonstrate access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the proposed work
• provide a project plan including milestones and timelines in the form of a Gantt chart or similar

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the ‘How to apply’ section.

References may be included within this section.

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
• the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
• the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the ‘How to apply’ section.

The word limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
• contributions to the wider research and innovation community
• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

References may be included within this section.

The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 500

What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations
• how you will manage these considerations
• potential impact of the proposed research on the environment or society in general

State the names of any bodies you will require approval from and whether you already have it. If it is not yet in place, then give an indicative timeframe for when it will be.

If you are collecting or using data, identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further re-use of data
• formal information standards with which your study will comply

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project, or indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities. Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.

Add the following project partner details:

• organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
• project partner contact name and email address
• type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Facilities

Word limit: 500

Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you will need to use a research council facility, follow your proposed facility’s normal access request procedures. Ensure you have prior agreement so that if you are offered funding, they will support the use of their facility on your project.

For each requested facility you will need to provide the:

• name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 42KB)
• proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list
• confirmation you have their agreement where required

If you have to attach a facility form, then upload it as a PDF. If you need to upload multiple forms, then combine them into a single PDF.

Facilities should only be named if they are on the facility information list. If you do not need to use a facility, simply add ‘N/A’ into the text box, mark this section as complete and move to the next section.

Upload guidance

Upload a single PDF containing facility forms ensuring it is no larger than 8MB, if applicable.

For the file name, use the Funding Service number the system gives to your application when you create an application, immediately followed by the words ‘facility forms’. Then use the ‘upload’ button.

Unless specifically requested, do not include any personal data within the attachment.

Once you have uploaded, mark this section as complete and move to the next one.

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 500

How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.

Indicate:

• which NERC data centre is required to archive the data
• whether the total volume of data is likely to be larger than 1TB
• any other detail on how you will comply with NERC data policy

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 2,000

What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:

• project staff
• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
• any equipment that will cost more than £25,000
• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
• all facilities and infrastructure costs
• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’

You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want to be assured that:

• all resources are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
• the project will make optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

Assessment process

We will assess your application using the following process.

Panel

An assessment panel comprised of independent external members will review your application against the assessment criteria and rank it alongside other applications. Panel members will consist of experts spanning the breadth of the funding opportunity remit to ensure that due consideration is given to inter and multi-disciplinary applications.

The programme expert advisory group (EAG) will consider fundable applications to make recommendations for a balanced portfolio of investments under this funding opportunity.

The EAG will formally advise the funders, who will make the final funding decision.

Timescale

We aim to complete the assessment process within three months of the funding opportunity closing date.

Feedback

We will give feedback with the outcome of your application within six months of the funding opportunity closing date.

We reserve the right to work with successful applicants post assessment to discuss any aspect of the application before award (for example, discuss panel feedback or requirements from NERC or any co-funders).

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) principles of assessment and decision making.

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Reviewers and panellists are not permitted to use generative AI tools to develop their assessment. Using these tools can potentially compromise the confidentiality of the ideas that applicants have entrusted to UKRI to safeguard.

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

Sharing data with co-funders and expert advisory group

NERC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

NERC, as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with programme partners so they can participate in the assessment of this funding opportunity:

• Department for Transport (DfT), Department for Business and Trade (DBT), Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)
• the programme expert advisory group (EAG) who will advise the funders on a balanced portfolio of investments from the fundable projects

For more information on how DfT & DBT use personal information, visit:

• personal information charter, Department for Transport
• personal information charter, Department for Business and Trade
• personal information, Aerospace Technology Institute

Assessment areas

The areas against which your application will be assessed are:

• vision
• approach
• applicant and team capability to deliver
• ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Get help with your application

The Helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the Helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent funding opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility or content/remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity, contact aviation@nerc.ukri.org

For help and advice on costings and writing your application, contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org
Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries quicker, we request that users highlight the council and funding opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.

Background

The government is committed to delivering greener transport and supporting the missions to kickstart economic growth and to make Britain a clean energy superpower. Aviation has both CO2 emissions and non-CO2 climate impacts and recent scientific research shows that the non-CO2 impacts of aviation could be greater than the impact from CO2 emissions. Whilst the impact of CO2 emissions can be quantified, academic research shows that there continues to be significant uncertainty regarding aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and there is a need to improve our understanding, and to identify and develop policy options and measures to mitigate these impacts.

The UK aviation industry is accelerating the development of new ultra-efficient and zero-emission aircraft technologies and low carbon solutions to address the challenge of aviation CO2 emissions. However, both government and industry are mindful that while there continues to be uncertainty regarding the magnitude of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts, it most likely has an overall warming impact which could be greater than CO2 emissions. Therefore, designs for technological solutions for reducing CO2 emissions must also consider incorporating measures to reduce aviation’s non-CO2 impacts as well.

Undertaking further research to increase our understanding of this issue is needed to inform government and industry investment and policy decisions in respect of aircraft technology, manufacturing, fuel production and wider aviation operations.

The Aviation’s non-CO2 Impact on the Climate programme focuses on two aspects:

• improving our understanding of aviation’s non-CO2 impacts and reducing the current scientific uncertainties (this includes contrail cirrus, nitrous oxides, and other non-CO2 emissions such as water vapour and particulates like soot and sulphur)
• identifying and developing mitigating actions to address those impacts (this includes but is not limited to technology development, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen aircraft (both direct combustion and fuel cells), contrail prediction and avoidance, reducing aromatic content of kerosene and carbon pricing)

The programme, while managed as a whole and overseen by a single programme board, will be split across two funding lines – one for academic-led fundamental research projects (commissioned by NERC), and one for industry-led applied research projects (commissioned by Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)).

Programme management

The overall funders for the wider programme (NERC, DBT and DfT) form a programme board to oversee the progress of the programme, making funding decisions and have oversight for delivery and strategic direction of the research programme. There is also a programme team made up from representation from programme partners who oversee programme operation.

Expert advisory group

A programme expert advisory group (EAG) has been established comprising of experts from across industry and academia. The EAG will provide critical advice and recommendations to the programme board on the strategic direction of the programme and balance of the portfolio. Active EAG members will not be eligible for funding through programme funding opportunities. The programme coordinator will chair this group.

Programme coordinator

A programme coordinator will be recruited to be responsible for delivery of cross-programme integration, stakeholder engagement and communication across the wider landscape to maximise the outcomes and impacts of the programme.

Funded projects will work with the programme coordinator to achieve integration and maximise project and programme outcomes.

Programme integration and reporting requirements

If you are successful, you will be required to report research outcomes on Researchfish in line with standard UK Research and Innovation terms and conditions for funding. This is required annually and continues for up to five years post grant end.

In addition, if you are successful, you will be expected to a cross-programme event (date to be confirmed) and annual programme meetings, the latter to present your ongoing results. Project leads will be required to work with the programme coordinator and the EAG throughout the lifetime of their project. You should include costs (travel and subsistence) for attendance to workshops and cross-programme meetings in your application.

You may also be required to provide additional information for monitoring and evaluation purposes during the programme lifetime and, according to standard grant terms and conditions, projects may be required to comply with any additional requests, for example, reporting to DBT for future programme evaluation activities, including via the ATI Programme.

At the end of your project, project teams will be required to report to the funders and will subsequently be invited to attend an end of programme meeting (date to be confirmed in 2028).

Additional programme funding opportunities

It is anticipated that there will be third and final funding opportunity for academic-led research projects as part of this programme released by NERC in autumn 2025 (date to be confirmed). The scope of this will be advertised in due course. Projects led by industry and business will also be funded through ATI competition. See the ‘Related content’ on this funding opportunity for further details.

Members of the expert advisory group will not be eligible to apply for funding through this funding opportunity.

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays
• disruptive working patterns and conditions
• the loss of ongoing work
• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant, and their wider team, to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

Our commitment to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015

Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms which deprive a person of their liberty in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain, such as:

• slavery
• servitude
• human trafficking
• forced and compulsory labour

We are committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking.