- The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is an R&D funding agency established by an Act of Parliament and sponsored by the UK Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
- ARIA’s mission is to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit society by funding research that is too speculative, difficult, or interdisciplinary to be pursued elsewhere.
- The agency empowers Programme Directors who have creative control and flexibility over the direction, funding, and management of projects within defined "opportunity spaces."
- Opportunity spaces are areas with high societal impact potential that are under-explored and ripe for new talent and resources to drive breakthroughs.
- ARIA funds research through programme and seed funding calls, with Programme Directors publishing opportunity space information and seeking public feedback.
- Target beneficiaries include individuals, universities, research institutions, small to large companies, charities, and public sector research organizations.
- ARIA encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and supports innovative research structures, such as early career researchers leading projects or funding senior academics to focus fully on ARIA projects.
- Applicants can submit multiple distinct proposals to funding calls, each evaluated independently.
- The application process and detailed funding opportunities are managed through ARIA’s official website, where updates, guidance, and FAQs are provided.
- The funding program opened on 14 January 2025 and will close on 16 January 2028.
- ARIA aims to catalyse new paths to prosperity for the UK and the world by supporting breakthrough R&D in under-explored areas with high potential impact.
For more details, applicants are directed to ARIA’s website: https://www.aria.org.uk/funding-opportunities and https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces
