We would like to thank everyone who submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) to the Research Software Maintenance Fund. A total of 360 applications were received for Round 1 of the RSMF, of which 172 were for the large awards and 188 were for small awards. We have shared the EoI outcomes with all applicants. 

This was a highly competitive round, and we are grateful for the time, care, and ambition demonstrated by applicants from across the community. In a previous post, we explained an updated review process, whereby each application was reviewed and assigned to one of three categories: 

• Fully in Scope: Applications that clearly met the Fund’s eligibility criteria and were invited to submit a full proposal. 

• Partially in Scope: Applications that showed strong potential but had minor gaps in one or more areas. These were entered into a lottery to ensure fairness and representation, with a portion selected to proceed. 

• Not in Scope: Applications that did not meet the core eligibility criteria and will not proceed further in this round. 

After a review by the funding programme team (with additional reviewers in case of conflicts) against the scope criteria, the outcomes were as follows: 

• 140 applications clearly met all criteria and were approved for a full application 

• An additional 10 applications were approved after they were drawn from a lottery of the 122 applications that mostly met the criteria 

• 98 applications did not demonstrate that they clearly met the criteria and were rejected 

A total of 69 large award EoIs and 81 small award EoIs have been taken through to the full application round. We will publish further details in the coming weeks, including a breakdown of application numbers by category, along with general observations on the process and criteria. While we are unable to provide individual feedback at this stage, we hope this information offers clarity and helps applicants prepare for future funding rounds. 

What is next? 

Applicants selected to move forward have been invited to submit a full proposal, due by Thursday 18 September 2025. They will receive details outlining the next steps, including proposal requirements, budget guidance, and scoring criteria. 

Looking ahead 

If your application was not selected this time, please know there will be future opportunities to apply. The next round is expected in 2026, and we strongly encourage you to consider resubmitting. 

We remain committed to supporting the long-term sustainability of research software and to ensuring that the process continues to be fair, transparent, and inclusive. 

For any questions, contact us at grants@software.ac.uk.