Overall Description

Purchase Mid-Range Equipment for Biomedical Research: MRC Equip is a Medical Research Council (MRC) capital equipment funding opportunity designed to build world-class laboratory capability supporting biomedical research across the MRC remit.

The call supports the purchase of mid-range research equipment that addresses an unmet need, enhances UK research capability and enables high-quality, novel or transformative biomedical research. Applications can support either new capability or replacement equipment, including second-hand or beta-testing equipment where associated risks are appropriately managed.

The equipment should serve a sufficiently broad and inclusive user base, complement existing infrastructure, and strengthen research capability at a local, regional or national level. Relevance to MRC priority areas is particularly encouraged.

Funding Amount

• Total funding available: Up to £14 million;
• MRC contribution per application: More than £200,000 and up to £1 million;
• Funding rate: 100% FEC;
• Total equipment cost: May exceed £1 million if the balance is covered by other contributions;
• Eligible costs: Capital equipment plus eligible installation/maintenance costs included in the manufacturer's offer;
• Award duration: 7 months;
• Spending deadline: 31 December 2027.

Submission Deadlines

• Opening: 13 August 2026 at 09:00 UK time;
• Application deadline: 5 November 2026 at 16:00 UK time;
• Project start: 1 June 2027;
• Project end: 31 December 2027.

Submission Conditions

Applications must:

• Be submitted through the UKRI Funding Service;
• Request more than £200,000 and up to £1 million from MRC;
• Request funding primarily for one piece of capital equipment / single technology platform;
• Use the equipment primarily for biomedical research within the MRC remit;
• Complete procurement and expenditure by 31 December 2027;
• Provide equipment quotations, from multiple suppliers where possible;
• Justify situations where there is a sole supplier or fewer than three quotations;
• Provide plans for equipment management, access, usage and long-term technical support;
• Demonstrate the equipment's economic, environmental and social sustainability.

Demand management applies:

• Each research organisation can submit a maximum of 2 applications, unless otherwise notified by MRC;
• An individual can be project lead on only 1 application;
• The same individual may participate as project co-lead on another application.

Eligible Types Of Applicants

Project lead:

• Researcher employed by an eligible UK research organisation;
• Research technical professional employed by an eligible research organisation;
• Applicants based within eligible MRC Units, including specified units in The Gambia and Uganda.

Research technical professionals are particularly encouraged to participate as project leads or co-leads.

Project partners may include:

• Businesses / industry;
• Academic organisations;
• Third-sector organisations;
• Government/public-sector organisations;
• UK or international organisations.

Eligible Countries

• Lead applicant: Primarily United Kingdom;
• Lead must normally be employed by a UK research organisation eligible for MRC funding;
• Specified MRC units in The Gambia and Uganda are also eligible;
• International project co-leads: Permitted under MRC's international co-lead policy;
• International project partners: Permitted, including organisations in the EU and other countries.

The principal beneficiaries must be in the UK, except for eligible MRC Africa units.