Small Grants Programme
About the Funding
The HSDS Small Grants Programme provides funding to unlock potential for innovation in heritage science and conservation research. With funding made generously available from UKRI through AHRC's RICHeS initiative, the programme operates under two streams:
- Funding Stream 1: Enable or enhance access to heritage science and conservation resources;
- Funding Stream 2: Work with the Hartree Centre software engineering and technical teams to develop tailored Virtual Research Environment applications and workflows.
Please see the full details for each funding stream below.
Call opening date: 1 October 2025.
Deadline for applications: 28 November 2025, 5pm, GMT.
Funding Stream 1: |
Enable or enhance access to heritage science and conservation resources |
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This funding stream supports projects that seek to enable or enhance access to reference collections and/or data from heritage science and conservation research. Example proposals could include, but are not limited to:
Note: Digitising collections is permitted within this funding but should not be the main focus of the award. |
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| Funding available: |
The full economic cost (FEC) of each project can be up to £25,000. HSDS will fund 100% of the FEC. |
| Eligibility: |
Applications are open to UK organisations including UKRI Independent Research Organisations (IROs), as well as museums, archives, galleries and other community partners subject to meeting the eligibility criteria set out in the Guide for Applicants. |
| Further information: |
Download the Guide for Applicants (Funding Stream 1) for more information. |
| How to apply: |
Funding Stream 1 - Submission System Applications are submitted using a Google Form which once started cannot be saved for later, so please ensure that you have your application form completed and ready to upload before you start your submission. An example application form is included in Appendix B of the Guide for Applicants. |
Funding Stream 2: |
Work with the Hartree software engineering and technical teams to develop tailored Virtual Research Environment applications and workflows
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This funding stream provides an opportunity for successful applicants to develop an idea for a new virtual research environment. Example proposals could include, but are not limited to:
Over the course of the project you will work closely with our colleagues at the STFC Hartree Centre to design and build the capability of the Virtual Research Environment. |
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| Funding available: |
The full economic cost (FEC) of each project can be up to £15,000. HSDS will fund 100% of the FEC. |
| Eligibility: |
Applications are open to UK organisations including UKRI Independent Research Organisations (IROs), as well as museums, archives, galleries and other community partners subject to meeting the eligibility criteria set out in the Guide for Applicants. |
| Further information: |
Download the Guide for Applicants (Funding Stream 2) for more information. |
| How to apply: |
Funding Stream 2 - Submission System |
Submission System
Below are links to the Submission System for each Funding Stream. Please make sure to use the correct form for the funding stream you want to apply for. Please see the details above for full information about how to apply to each Funding Stream.
Funding Stream 1 - Submission System
Funding Stream 2 - Submission System
Please note that as the submission system requires you to upload a completed application form, you will need to login into a Google Account before you can submit your application.
Contact Details
For questions related to this funding opportunity please contact [email protected].
Additional information
Information Session
Below is a recording of the Information Session held on the 9th October 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Resulting from the Information sessions, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions. This document can be downloaded as a pdf from the link below: