UK government frameworks

Framework

AHRC Research Grant

AHRC Responsive Mode funds arts and humanities research projects across history, literature, languages, philosophy, music, visual arts, design, media and heritage. The Standard Research Grant runs £300k to £1.5m fEC over up to five years; smaller Catalyst Awards and the Curiosity Award fund lower-value projects. Submissions are responsive with no fixed closing date.

Framework

BBSRC Applicant-Led Mode

BBSRC Applicant-Led Mode funds curiosity-driven bioscience research across the agriculture, food, industrial biotechnology and underpinning bioscience portfolios. Applications are rolling with no closing date and are assessed within approximately nine months. Awards are full economic cost; durations up to five years are typical.

RM1043.8

Digital Outcomes and Specialists 6

DOS 6 is the UK public sector route for buying agile digital teams, user research, and individual specialists. Buyers describe the outcome they want and shortlist suppliers via the Digital Marketplace.

Framework

EPSRC Standard Research Grant

EPSRC Standard Grants fund single-investigator or small-team research in the engineering and physical sciences. EPSRC publishes no upper limit on cost or project length. Responsive mode runs year-round with no fixed deadline. Assessment is by remote peer review followed by panel.

Framework

ESRC Research Grant

ESRC Research Grants fund social science research of any size between £350k and £1m, full economic cost, over a duration of one to five years. Themes span economics, sociology, politics, law, education, psychology, social policy, criminology and human geography.

RM1557.13

G-Cloud 13

G-Cloud 13 is the UK government framework for cloud hosting, software and support. Buyers in central government, the NHS, councils and the wider public sector use it to buy cloud services through the Digital Marketplace without running a full tender.

Framework

Horizon Europe Pillar 2

Horizon Europe Pillar 2 funds collaborative research and innovation across six thematic clusters: Health; Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; and Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment. Consortia of three or more partners across three or more countries apply against published Work Programme topics. The UK has been fully associated since 1 January 2024.

Framework

Innovate UK Smart Grants

Innovate UK Smart Grants fund disruptive, market-leading R&D projects across any sector. Awards £100k to £500k over six to eighteen months for single applicants, £100k to £2m over six to thirty-six months for collaborations. UK SMEs lead; collaborators may be larger.

Framework

MRC Research Grant

MRC Research Grants fund hypothesis-driven medical research across the discovery-to-translation continuum. Applications go directly to full submission (no outline stage); MRC publishes no fixed funding limit and accepts durations up to five years. Submissions are rolling and assessed in published board cycles.

Framework

NERC Pushing the Frontiers

NERC Pushing the Frontiers funds curiosity-driven research across atmospheric, oceanographic, ecological, geological, polar and freshwater sciences. Awards up to £950k fEC, typically three to four years. Submissions are rolling (no closing date) with assessment in published panel cycles.

Framework

NIHR HSDR

NIHR HSDR funds research that improves the quality, organisation and delivery of health and social care services in the UK. NIHR publishes no fixed funding limit or duration. Mixed-methods, applied and evaluative work is core.

Framework

NIHR HTA

NIHR HTA funds clinical trials, systematic reviews and other evaluative research on the effectiveness, costs and broader impact of health technologies in routine NHS care. NIHR publishes no fixed funding limit or duration; many awards are pragmatic RCTs over multiple years.

Framework

NIHR i4i

NIHR i4i funds collaborative R&D projects that develop medical technologies, in vitro diagnostic devices and digital health for patient benefit. Awards £200k to £1m+ over up to three years. SME-led or NHS-led, typically with both in the consortium.

RM6098

RM6098 Technology Products and Associated Services 2

RM6098 is the main UK government framework for IT hardware, software licences, and the related installation, training and disposal services. It replaces the old Technology Products 2 framework and is used by central government, the NHS, councils and the wider public sector.

RM6100

RM6100 Technology Services 3

RM6100 is the principal UK government framework for IT and digital services, from small advisory engagements through to multi-year managed service contracts. The third version of Technology Services, it routes most enterprise IT spend in central government and the wider public sector.

RM6178

RM6178 Network Services 3

RM6178 is the UK government framework for telecoms and network services. The third generation of Network Services, it covers WAN, LAN, mobile voice and data, internet access, unified communications and contact centre services for the public sector.

RM6263

RM6263 Cyber Security Services 4

RM6263 is the UK government framework for cyber security advisory, testing and operational services. The fourth iteration of CSS, it covers everything from cyber strategy and risk assessment through to penetration testing, incident response and managed SOC.

Framework

Wellcome Discovery Research

Wellcome Discovery Research funds curiosity-driven research that contributes to human, animal or environmental health. Awards £1m+ over up to eight years for established teams; smaller Early Career Awards for ECRs.