We are thrilled to mark the first anniversary of RICHeS with the launch of an exciting new initiative, the RICHeS Access Fund. Today, the Expression of Interest (EOI) stage of our First Call is now officially open.
What is the RICHeS Access Fund?
The RICHeS Access Fund is designed to catalyse collaborative, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research by connecting users with the scientific facilities and collections managed by RICHeS service providers. The Access Fund supports both the users and the providers, enabling projects that may otherwise lack the infrastructure or expertise to proceed.
You do not need to already know which scientific techniques your project requires. The RICHeS Access Fund is built to provide access to both resources and specialist support. If you believe that partnership with RICHeS infrastructure can elevate your heritage research idea, we encourage you to apply.
Why heritage science and why now?
Heritage science encompasses everything from dating archaeological materials to revealing the hidden contents of mummified collections, searching for submerged shipwrecks and understanding environmental or human impact on historic buildings, paintings or textiles. New technologies now provide opportunities to address longstanding challenges such as cleaning delicate artworks, or looking inside sealed jars and letters.
But those tools often reside in specialist labs or collections. The RICHeS Access Fund removes those access barriers, fostering innovation where infrastructure and skills may otherwise be out of reach.
How to get involved
Visit our RICHeS Access Fund section on our website for full application guidance and join us at our upcoming webinar on Tuesday 21 October, 13:00-14:00 GMT to learn more about the RICHeS Access Fund and how to apply. The Expression of Interest (EOI) stage will remain open until 10 December 2025.
Be sure to explore the HSDS Catalogue of Services to explore what services you could access. You can learn more about this catalogue from last weeks blog celebrating the Heritage Science Data Service (HSDS).
We look forward to receiving your ideas through the Expressions of Interest (EOI) and to enabling access to support new, collaborative research through the RICHeS Access Fund.