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image for illustration: Crannog in Loch Bhorgastail, F. Sturt/ Antiquity, CC-by-sa 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The IHBC has welcomed the opening of the Research Infrastructure for Conservation and Heritage Science (RICHeS) ‘Full Access Fund’ – to help heritage science and conservation researchers etc access RICHeS-funded equipment and more, with a support webinar on 11 March and applications closing on 8 April.
RICHeS Programme Board Chair Prof Dana Arnold writes:
Do you have a project focussing on conservation or heritage science that could benefit from access to specialist facilities, expertise or collections? As Chair of the Programme Board, I am excited to spread the word that the RICHeS Access Fund is now open for Full Applications from researchers, museums and heritage organisations to unlock access to world-class conservation and heritage science infrastructure across the UK.
With Grant Awards of up to £20,000, the RICHeS Access Fund is designed to remove barriers to access and enable ambitious, collaborative and multidisciplinary projects that make full use of the heritage science infrastructure distributed across the UK.
For full guidance, eligibility information and to submit your application, visit the RICHeS Access Fund webpage
Register to join the RICHeS Access Fund webinar on 11 March here.
RICHeS writes:
… the RICHeS Access Fund enables heritage science and conservation researchers, research organisations, museums and other eligible users to access RICHeS-funded equipment, specialist facilities, nationally important collections and specialist expertise. By removing financial and practical barriers to access, the RICHeS Access Fund is designed to foster ambitious, collaborative research that makes full use of the UK’s distributed research infrastructure.
Funding available
The maximum grant award is up to £20,000 which should include the total eligible costs for the project, including those incurred by your Service Provider(s).
What the RICHeS Access Fund supports
The RICHeS Access Fund is designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and to demonstrate the value of shared national research infrastructure to both the research community and the wider public. The RICHeS Access Fund can support access to:
- Fixed and mobile cutting-edge scientific equipment
- Specialist laboratories and facilities
- Nationally significant heritage collections
- Technical expertise and specialist knowledge hosted across the RICHeS distributed network
About RICHeS
RICHeS is the UK’s national research infrastructure for conservation and heritage science, led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of the UKRI Infrastructure Fund. Operating as a distributed infrastructure, RICHeS connects facilities, equipment, collections, data and expertise hosted in institutions across the UK, ensuring alignment with national research priorities and maximising public value. With world-leading scientific capabilities, RICHeS empowers researchers and conservators to push the boundaries of heritage science, accelerate discovery and deliver real-world impact.
RICHeS Access Fund Full Application timeline
- Full Application Stage Opens: Wednesday 28 January 2026
- Full Application Deadline: Wednesday 8 April 2026
- Funding decisions announced: June 2026
Further information on the RICHeS Access Fund and the application process please visit this page: RICHeS Access Fund – RICHeS
Information for EOI applicants
Applicants who responded to the earlier Expression of Interest (EOI) call will have received feedback from the RICHeS Infrastructure Headquarters (IHQ) team on eligibility and alignment with the Fund’s aims. Those applicants are now invited to submit a Full Application, building on guidance received from the EOI stage to strengthen their proposals and maximise chances of success.
Applicant support webinar
To support applicants, RICHeS will host an online webinar on Wednesday 11 March 2026, 10:00-11:00 GMT. The session will provide guidance on completing a Full Application and offer the opportunity to ask questions about eligibility and project scope.
Please register to join the webinar on 11 March here.
For full guidance, eligibility information and to submit your application, visit the RICHeS Access Fund webpage.
Click to submit a Full Application
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