The Value of Marine Artificial Structures (ValMAS) research programme aims to enhance understanding of the ecological, economic, and social value of marine artificial structures (MAS) natural capital.

This programme will inform decision-making and policy solutions for managing all life stages of MAS, from deployment to decommissioning.

The programme focuses on the North Sea basin, specifically oil and gas, and offshore wind infrastructure, leveraging in-kind support from parallel existing research initiatives, particularly INSITE and relevant projects being funded through The Crown Estate’s Offshore Evidence and Change programme.

Scope of Work

The ValMAS programme has two research challenges: developing an enhanced understanding of the environmental effects and ecological consequences of MAS in the North Sea basin across their full lifecycle and delivering the evidence base and assessment tools, using a natural capital approach, to inform the development of robust approaches to the decommissioning of MAS alongside supporting sustainable nature recovery, fisheries, and cross-industry marine management.

Eligibility

This funding opportunity is open to research groups and individuals based at a UK research organisation eligible for Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funding. Applications must include more than one institution and individuals at any career stage can apply, subject to NERC eligibility criteria.

International applicants are not funded, except for specific costs for project co-leads from Norway and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA).

Budget and Duration

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £5,624,000.

We will fund 80% of the FEC with the following exceptions: justified equipment would be funded at 50% eligible costs for international project co-lead involvement would be funded at 100% National Marine Facilities (NMF) costs will be funded at 100%.

Projects must have a duration of 48 months and must start by 4 November 2025.

Key Dates

• Outline opening date: 12 September 2024 9:00am UK time

• Outline closing date: 7 November 2024 4:00pm UK time

• Full opening date: December 2024

• Full closing date: February 2025

• Full panel meeting: April 2025

Application Process

This funding opportunity uses a two-stage application and assessment process:

• Stage one: submission of an outline application

• Stage two: invited submission of a full application, if successful at stage one

Applications must be submitted through the UKRI Funding Service. The project lead is responsible for completing the application process, but all team members and project partners are expected to contribute.

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