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:
- Theme 1: Generate Datasets - Enable or Enhance Access to Heritage Science and Conservation Resources
- Theme 2: Virtual Research Environments - Work with STFC Hartree Centre’s software engineering and technical teams to develop tailored Virtual Research Environment applications and workflows.
Please see the full details for each funding stream below. The closing date for applications is 30th September 2026.
Theme 1 |
Generate Datasets - Enable or Enhance Access to Heritage Science and Conservation Resources |
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Do you have digital data stored on old hard drives or local computers? Is your data at risk of being lost? Would you like to organise and preserve it and make it more widely available but lack the time or expertise to do the work? If so, apply for one of our grants to generate a dataset. Please note: You may include some digitising in your project, for example where you’d like to join up existing paper and digital resources, but we regret that projects seeking only to digitise paper records can’t be supported. |
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| Funding available: |
Apply for between £500 and £25,000. |
| 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 Datasets Guide for Applicants for more information. |
| How to apply: |
Theme 1: Datasets Submission System Applications are submitted using an online form. You can also download an example application form to help you prepare |
Theme 2: |
Work with STFC Hartree Centre’s Software Engineering and Technical Teams to Develop Tailored Virtual Research Environment Applications and Workflows |
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Do you have an idea for a software application that would be useful for lots of users, but lack the programming skills to write the code? Do you have manual workflows that are time-consuming, or need access to software that will only run on high-end computers? A Virtual Research Environment could be the answer! Learn more about Virtual Research Environments. 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. No technical knowledge is required, our experts will provide all the guidance you need. |
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| Funding available: |
Apply for up to £15,000. |
| 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 VREs Guide for Applicants for more information. |
| How to apply: |
Theme 2: VREs Submission System |
Contact Details
For questions related to this funding opportunity please contact [email protected].
Additional Information
Information Sessions
Two information webinars were held on the 10 and 16 June 2026. A recording of the webinar session is available below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Closing date for applications is 30th September 2026.
For further help and advice, please download our Frequently Asked Questions.
