Small Grants Programme

Deposit Data

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.

The Submission System will become active once the Small Grants Programme goes live on the 1st October. A link to the system will appear on this page on that date.

Funding Stream 1:

Enable or enhance access to heritage science and conservation resources

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:

  • Preparing existing important datasets for deposit with the HSDS, by adding documentation to aid re-use, creating metadata and/or cleaning data.
  • Bringing together disparate collections, such as uniting digital resources from different hosts or connecting physical and digital resources. 

Note: Digitising collections is permitted within this funding but should not be the main focus of the award. 
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:
  1. Download the Application Form (Funding Stream 1) and complete all sections. Please refer to the Guide for Applicants for assistance in completing the form. 
  2. Upload your completed application form as a PDF to the 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

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: 

  • technical feasibility studies and design thinking workshops 
  • proof of concept (software) application/tool/service builds 
  • creation of data processing pipelines and automation workflows to reduce the overhead of tedious or computationally expensive tasks 
  • customisation and extension of open-source tools to better address your specific use-case, and 
  • applied AI/ML to integrate AI into your application workflow. 

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.
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:
  1. Download the Application Form (Funding Stream 2)  and complete all sections. Please refer to the Guide for Applicants for assistance in completing the form. 
  2. Upload your completed application form as a PDF to the 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.

Information Session

Two information sessions for potential applicants will be held.

  • 9 October at 14:00-15:00 GMT
  • 14 October at 10:00-11:00 GMT

Both sessions will be the same so you do not need to attend both. Look out for further details regarding sign up. 

Contact Details

For questions related to this funding opportunity please contact [email protected].

Additional information

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