Need

We invite relevant Solvers from our Innocentive community to participate in this significant funding opportunity with the UK Advanced Research & Invention Agency (ARIA).

ARIA is seeking proposals – with funding of up to $650,000 for early-stage research that explores new pathways for climate adaptation and resilience.

This is a significant funding programme for Solvers, potentially from across the world; please note though the need for conducting >50% project work in the UK which is clarified in the next sections.

Decarbonization is the only sustainable route out of the climate crisis, but environmental changes are outpacing current mitigation efforts.

ARIA are interested in ideas ranging from early-stage, curiosity-driven research through to advanced translational science. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Carbon dioxide removal: Novel concepts to accelerate the drawdown of atmospheric carbon.
• Extreme weather forecasting: Breakthroughs in predicting extreme weather events to better prepare vulnerable systems.
• New ideas related to solar geoengineering: New ideas related to solar geoengineering, please note strictly out of scope are proposals specifically designed to investigate the potential to alter the Earth's surface temperature by affecting planetary albedo, incoming solar radiation, or the atmosphere's emissivity – these are the core focus of a separate ARIA Exploring Climate Cooling ECC programme.

We welcome Solver proposals from across the Innocentive R&D ecosystem, including individuals, universities (including proposals from students, postdocs and staff), research institutions, small companies and charities.

Collaboration Opportunity

Both UK based and non-UK based Solvers are welcomed.

Solvers interested to apply from outside of the UK can partner with Wazoku:

• to help you to meet the funding requirement to conduct the majority of the project work in the UK (>50% of project costs and personnel time is required)
• and for exceptional circumstances if ARIA accepts your reasoning for less of the work to take place in the UK
• see more guidance in the eligibility tab

In return, Wazoku will retain a partnering share of 30% of any funding you are paid; allow for this in your application. Funding opportunities range from $15,000 to $650,000.

Read more and gain access to the application platform by registering your interest!

Submissions to this Challenge must be received at the application platform by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on July 30th, 2026.

Eligibility

We welcome Solver proposals from across the Innocentive R&D ecosystem, including individuals (including those not affiliated with an organization), universities (including proposals from students, postdocs and staff), research institutions, small companies and charities.

If you are a non-UK based applicant you should note that the primary focus will be on those willing to conduct the majority (> 50%) of the project from the UK.

If you are currently not operating in the UK, and the majority of the work will be conducted in the UK, you should state to ARIA that you will achieve this by partnering with UK based Wazoku.

ARIA may, in exceptional circumstances, award funding to applicants whose projects will primarily take place outside of the UK (also achieved by partnering with Wazoku), with their believe it is unique/compelling and/or the UK would miss out if not funded.

In this case, ARIA will need to know your location and your perspective on how the funded project would benefit the UK either immediately or in the long term. Benefits may include:

• enhancing economic growth in the UK
• fostering scientific innovation in the UK
• enhancing the quality of life in the UK (or both in the UK and internationally)

Background

If an abrupt alteration in a climate system were to unfold, we would have no tools to mitigate the effects. Scientific, engineering and social science research could provide practical and responsible intervention and adaptation options to mitigate the impacts of climate disasters.

Out of Scope

• Proposals specifically designed to investigate the potential to alter the Earth's surface temperature by affecting planetary albedo, incoming solar radiation, or the atmosphere's emissivity – these are the core focus of a separate ARIA Exploring Climate Cooling ECC programme.
• Emissions reduction projects and improvements to the energy efficiency of buildings or vehicles.
• Commercial products or research that would likely be funded by traditional venture capital or grants.
• Any proposal for outdoor experiments that does not strictly demonstrate its ability to conform to the governance mechanisms and principles outlined in ARIA’s governance framework for outdoor experiments.