CurrentResearch:WholeSystemsNetworkingFund

UKERC’s Whole Systems Networking Fund (WSNF) is designed to improve Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), collaboration and networking in energy research. Due to its success in UKERC’s third and fourth phases, it has returned for the 2024-2029 phase. The WSNF will broaden both the people and institutions UKERC engages with, connect new partners and amplify fresh voices in the conversation around our future energy system.

The Fund will:

• Offer career enhancement and networking opportunities for ECRs
• Bring in diverse teams to deliver projects that align with UKERC research areas
• Widen participation to share experience across disciplines and the four UK nations
• Improve EDI across the energy research space
  
  

We are currently welcoming proposals that align with UKERC’s current research areas. We also welcome proposals for interdisciplinary research, approaches, and methods that speak to more than one current research area. The aim behind aligning WSNF proposals with UKERC’s current research is to provide opportunities for regular and in-depth engagement and networking within UKERC around particular topics.

We have £354,000 of funding to allocate to up to four projects. This will be done at 80% Full Economic Costs (FEC), meaning UKERC will fund 80% of the total project costs. For example, if a project costs £75,000, UKERC will award a grant of £60,000 with the project’s host institution expected to cover the remaining 20%. Applicants can apply for any award up to the value of £88,500 (at 100% costs). Find out more about the application process. Once funds are allocated, projects will run from April 2026 until 31 March 2028.

How to apply

Please download the Application Form and Call Guidance.

Please complete the form, save it as a Word document with the file name ‘WSNF-name of project’ and send via email to UKERC@imperial.ac.uk by 17:00 on 30 January 2026. There will be a two stage assessment process, further details of which are outlined in the Call Guidance. Successful proposals will be notified by March 2026, with work commencing in the following month, and completed by 31 March 2028.

Grant Writing Training

UKERC is hosting a session on December 16 targeted at Early Career Researchers (ECRs), which will include helpful hints and tips to improve the chances of submitting a successful application. Find out more and register.