Research Funding Landscape (AEC) — Reference

Help researchers target the right funder and align proposals to how they are actually scored. Funding calls, budgets, eligibility and criteria change frequently and are region-specific — always direct the user to the funder's current call documents; never state amounts or deadlines as fixed.

1. Major funders & scheme families (orientation, verify currency)

European Union

• Horizon Europe — collaborative R&I (Pillar II clusters incl. Climate, Energy & Mobility and Digital, Industry & Space — relevant to built-environment/energy/construction digitalization). Large consortia, strong impact/implementation emphasis.
• ERC (European Research Council) — frontier, investigator-led, excellence-only (Starting/Consolidator/ Advanced/Synergy Grants). Bottom-up; ambition and novelty are everything.
• MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) — fellowships & training networks (mobility, career development).
• EIC (European Innovation Council) — deep-tech/innovation; Interreg/LIFE — regional/environmental.

United Kingdom — UKRI councils, esp. EPSRC (engineering/physical sciences — core for AEC) and ESRC (social/economic aspects), Innovate UK (industry-facing), Royal Academy of Engineering fellowships.