GrantRadar

UK Research and Innovation (MRC)

Purchase mid-range equipment for biomedical research: MRC Equip

MRC funding for a single item of mid-range capital equipment, or a single technology platform, whose main purpose is biomedical research within MRC's remit, either new capability or a replacement. Researchers and research technical professionals employed at MRC-eligible research organisations can apply, and research technical professionals are particularly encouraged to lead. MRC contributes more than £200,000 and up to £1 million at 100% of full economic cost; the equipment can cost more if the rest comes from elsewhere. Each research organisation can submit only two applications, and awards run for seven months from 1 June 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£200,000 – £1,000,000
Closes in
18 days left
5 November
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • You must be a researcher or research technical professional employed by a UK research organisation eligible for MRC funding (standard eligibility); research technical professionals are particularly encouraged to lead or co-lead
  • Applicants in MRC Units, including MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM and the MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, can lead; other international research organisations cannot
  • Each research organisation can submit only two applications unless MRC notifies its research office otherwise, so speak to your research office early
  • You can lead only one application but co-lead others
  • International researchers can join as project co-lead (international); other international collaborators are project partners
  • Equipment vendors should be included as project partners
  • Resubmissions from earlier rounds are eligible but count towards the organisation's limit
  • If the lead organisation is an NHS body, check early that it is set up on the Funding Service

What it funds

  • Capital equipment over £200,000 (including VAT, if payable), requested under the 'Exceptions – equipment' heading only
  • A single piece of equipment, which can need assembly or have several components if they form a single technology platform
  • New capability, or replacement equipment for existing capability
  • Second-hand or beta-testing equipment, if you show how the higher risk of failure is managed
  • One-off initial installation and service maintenance contracts that are part of the manufacturer's offer, up to five years and paid by 31 December 2027

relevance to MRC priority areas is particularly encouraged. Quotes from several suppliers are expected, using discounted rather than list prices. If several components might count as one platform, get MRC's permission first by sending ca@mrc.ukri.org a one-page outline.

What it will not fund

  • Any costs other than capital equipment and associated maintenance
  • Separately negotiated service contracts
  • Equipment below the £200,000 (VAT included) threshold
  • Applications that cannot complete procurement and spend by 31 December 2027
  • Equipment scheduled for market release after the closing date
  • Principal beneficiaries outside the UK (except eligible MRC Africa units) or outside biomedical research
  • Generic computing platforms, such as high performance computing clusters, used largely beyond a few specific MRC-remit projects
  • Buildings, other infrastructure or very large facilities
  • Normal elements of a well-founded laboratory, such as centrifuges, fridges, sample storage and incubators
  • Development of new technology
  • Development of software packages
  • Applications of the same nature submitted to other funders at the same time, unless the strict time-sensitivity exception applies
  • Uninvited resubmissions of applications submitted after 1 August 2026 to MRC, the rest of UKRI or any other funder

How to apply

  1. Contact your research office early: each organisation can submit only two applications
  2. If you are requesting several components as one platform, send MRC a one-page outline at ca@mrc.ukri.org and get permission before applying
  3. Get quotes, from several suppliers where possible, and a written quotation from your preferred vendor that includes any discount and a commitment to supply by 31 December 2027
  4. Start an application on the UKRI Funding Service (Je-S is not used)
  5. Answer the questions: summary, core team, purpose, vision (including a detailed research plan), approach (paste in the Timeline and Usage tables), sustainability, applicant and team capability (R4RI), your organisation's support, project partners and their letters, data management and sharing, ethics and RRI, resources and cost justification (using the Cost Summary table), related applications, and trusted research
  6. Send the application to your research office, which submits it by 4pm on 5 November 2026

the Find a Grant copy of the 'Deadline' section says 5 November 2027, a typo; the closing date and the UKRI page both say 5 November 2026. The 7 September 2026 webinar has passed.

Have ready

  • Timeline and Usage tables and the Cost Summary table from the MRC Equip supplementary tables (DOCX), pasted into the text boxes
  • Statement of support from your research organisation
  • Letters or emails of support from each project partner, as a single PDF in English or Welsh, up to two sides of A4 each, including the vendor's quotation
  • Industry or company letter of support template, for industry partners other than equipment vendors

costs are entered as a single equipment cost at 100% FEC under 'Exceptions – Equipment', inclusive of VAT and net of discounts and other contributions.

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