The Software Sustainability Institute is running the Research Software Maintenance Fund, supported by the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure programme, offering £4.8 million to support and sustain key research software, ensuring it remains reliable and accessible. This initiative will not only fund vital pieces of the research ecosystem but help us understand how we can effectively provide the support that research software needs to reduce technical debt and grow engagement.
Funding from the Research Software Maintenance Fund can be used to support and maintain existing research software or sustain a team responsible for multiple software tools. However, it is not intended for developing entirely new software.
The scheme includes two types of awards: up to £500k for two years and up to £150k for one year, with multiple funding rounds between 2025 and 2027. The larger two-year grants will only be available in the first round in 2025.
Applications can be submitted when each round is open via our grant submission platform.
Please sign up to our mailing list to be informed of when the Research Software Maintenance Fund is open for applications.
For specific questions related to the Research Software Maintenance Fund please contact grants@software.ac.uk
Timeline for Round 1 | |
| 7 April 2025 | 10:00 BST | Opening Date (Expressions of Interest) |
| 7 May 2025 | 13:00-14:00 BST | Information webinar | Watch the recording |
| 30 May 2025 | 16:00 BST | Closing Date (Expressions of Interest) |
| 7 July 2025 | Feedback on Expressions of Interest |
| July 2025 | Opening Date (Full Proposals) |
| 18 September 2025 | Closing Date (Full Proposals) |
| 17 October 2025 | Decisions Communicated |
| 29 February 2028 | Latest completion date for all project work |
