Funding for mid-range capital equipment that will enable and enhance biomedical research.
Applications from all scientific areas within the MRC remit are eligible. Relevance to MRC priority areas is particularly encouraged. The primary purpose of the equipment must be biomedical research.
Applications must consist of a single piece of capital equipment, although this can include equipment that requires assembly or involves several components (not necessarily physically linked) provided they constitute a single technology platform.
Applications may be for new capability or replacement equipment for existing capability. In the case of the latter, applications are encouraged to outline any additional new capacity or capability provided by the replacement.
Applications for second-hand or beta-testing equipment are also permitted, if you can demonstrate how you are addressing any associated risks with increased chance of equipment failure.
ELIGIBILITY
Building on the Technician Commitment UKRI Action Plan, applications are particularly encouraged from research technical professionals as either project lead or project co-lead.
Note that the following applications will be rejected without consultation:
- applications that request any other costs apart from capital equipment funding
- equipment requested valued below the £200,000 (VAT included) threshold (equipment should exceed this threshold and equipment prices should be based on standard higher education institution discounted prices not the list price)
- proposals that cannot complete by the expected end date of 31 December 2027
- requests for funding for equipment that is scheduled for market release after the opportunity closing date
- principal beneficiaries outside the UK (except for eligible MRC units in Africa)
- principal beneficiaries outside biomedical research
- establishment of generic computing platforms (for example, high performance computing clusters) when the intended use extends largely beyond a small number of specific projects or research areas that are within the MRC remit
- requests for contributions to very large facilities or to the purchase of equipment that constitutes normal elements of a well-founded laboratory (for example, centrifuges, fridges and incubators), or for buildings and other types of infrastructures
- applications for the development of new technology, these are outside of the scope of this funding opportunity, although the use of new or emerging technologies is encouraged
- applications to develop software packages
- applications of the same nature that at the same time have also been submitted to other award schemes, including research council funding opportunities
- unsolicited resubmissions of applications that have previously been considered by MRC or any other funder
VALUE AND DURATION
The FEC of your project can be up to £1 million.
Awards must have a duration of seven months with a start date of 1 June 2027.
KEY DATES
Call opens: 13 August 2026
Webinar: TBC
Deadline: 5 November 2026
Start date: 1 June 2027
End date: 31 December 2027
Visit the full pre-call announcement for more information or see the document below.