Astronomy Solar and Planetary Small Awards 2026

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service

Application Sections: Vision and approach, applicant and team capability to deliver, ethics and responsible research and innovation, resources and cost justification, classification of application, risk management, other funding support, project partners and data management and sharing.

Assessment Process: Applications undergo eligibility checks, independent expert review and panel assessment by the Astronomy Grants Panel before final ranking and funding decisions.

Co-Funders: Not specified

Collaboration Rules: Applications may be submitted by a single research organisation or by a consortium of multiple research organisations.

Competitiveness: Not specified

Consortium Requirements: Not specified

Decision Risks: Applications may be rejected if they do not meet eligibility criteria, exceed staffing limits or fall outside the remit of the funding opportunity.

Decision Timeline: Not specified

Eligible Expenses: Project specific costs including travel and subsistence, directly incurred and directly allocated costs, equipment and high performance computing costs where justified.

Eligible Scope: Projects supporting theory, modelling, simulation, observation, experiment and new technology development related to solar system science including solar physics, planetary science and laboratory studies of solar system material.

Funding Intensity: 80% of Full Economic Cost (FEC).

Important Notes: Applicants may submit up to two applications across the small awards round but only one as project lead.

Ineligible Projects: Studentships are not permitted. Multi project small award applications are not permitted.

International Collaboration Requirement: Organisations based overseas may participate where eligible.

Interview Stage: Not specified

Key Requirements: Projects must be a single research project with defined staffing limits and must fall within the STFC remit for solar system and planetary science.

Lead Organisation Requirement: The lead applicant must meet UKRI eligibility criteria and be based at an eligible research organisation.

Match Funding Requirement: No matched funding required beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution.

Project Duration: Maximum of three years

Project End Date: Up to three years from the project start date

Project Start Date: 2027-10-01 00:00:00

Publication Date: 2025-12-05 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Not specified

Research Category: Solar system and planetary science research.

Research Organisation Funding: Research organisations receive 80% of the Full Economic Cost.

Section: Astronomy Solar and Planetary Small Awards 2026

Subcontractors: Not specified

Total Fund Available: Not specified