GREENIN Micro Network Plus

Open Invitation to Sandpit Workshop and Feasibility Study Funding Opportunity

The GREENIN Micro Network Plus is excited to announce an open invitation to participate in its upcoming sandpit workshop - a unique opportunity to co-create innovative feasibility study ideas focused on indoor greening. This collaborative event will bring together experts from diverse disciplines to develop projects that could receive funding of up to £30,000. Attendance at the sandpit workshop is required to be eligible for funding, which aims to advance knowledge and practical solutions to improve indoor environmental quality, health, and wellbeing in the face of climate change. Early Career Researchers (ECRs) are especially encouraged to take a leading role in this multidisciplinary initiative.

Key Dates

• The Expression of Interest (EOI) deadline to participate in the sandpit event is 28 February (APPLY HERE) We aim to select a diverse group of participants across disciplines and sectors, particularly ECRs, are welcome to join. For any questions, please contact us at greeninmnp@surrey.ac.uk

• Sandpit Workshop: 12 March 2026, an all day event which will take place online. Exact timing of the event will be confirmed via email soon after the deadline for the EOI has passed.

Funding Opportunity

Following the sandpit, attendees will be invited to submit proposals for feasibility studies. The evaluation panel will be asked to judge proportionality and value for money for each project. 

• Funding per project: up to £30,000 per project (3–4 projects expected). Please check UKRI guidance on costings here. Bids should be costed at 100% Full Economic Cost (FEC), and should specify the overhead rate you are using. Note GREENIN Micro Network Plus will only fund 80% (up to £30,000 per project) of the total FEC. If you are unsure which costs are eligible, please contact us at greeninmnp@surrey.ac.uk 

• Duration of each project: 6–9 months (June 2026–March 2027)

• Eligibility:

• The sandpit workshop is open to all GREENIN members, who are residents in the UK (international applications cannot be supported under this scheme). GREENIN Membership is free, and an applicant can join using the following link: Become a member today — GREENIN. If you have questions regarding your eligibility, please contact us at greeninmnp@surrey.ac.uk

• Attendance at the sandpit workshop is required to apply for funding.

Background

The GREENIN Micro Network Plus is a UKRI (EPSRC) funded initiative to build a new network focusing on determining the best ways to measure the potential benefits of indoor greening and examining how climate change might influence these benefits. The GREENIN Network is committed to creating innovative opportunities to explore the role of indoor greening and its impact on health, well-being, and environmental quality across different sectors through dedicated programmes. The objectives of the GREENIN Network Plus project are:

1. Build a network of multidisciplinary specialists

2. Conduct collaborative studies to expand our knowledge of indoor greening

3. Create practical guidelines for building design and management professionals

4. Promote wider use of greening to enhance building environments and public health

As part of GREENIN network development and to kickstart these initiatives, we invite individuals to express their interest in participating in the upcoming sandpit workshop, which will serve as the foundation for developing collaborative feasibility study proposals.

PART 1: INSTRUCTIONS

Sandpit Workshop

We are aiming to fund 3–4 feasibility studies, each lasting approximately 6-9 months (June 2026–March 2027). The sandpit workshop seeks to bring together experts from academia, industry, policy, and community sectors to co-create innovative project ideas. These ideas will form the basis of feasibility study proposals eligible for GREENIN funding. 

The workshop structure entails discussing the main themes, followed by breakout sessions where diverse groups brainstorm challenges, identify partners, and draft initial ideas. The participants will then self-select into teams to refine concepts for feasibility study proposals.

The workshop will be themed around four primary aspects of indoor greening. 

1. Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and Air Purification: Assessing mechanisms and influence of indoor and outdoor greening on IEQ (Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), mould, humidity, temperature) for various plant types, ecologies and conditions, including the interface between outdoor and indoor greening. 

2. IEQ Monitoring and Modelling Approaches for Indoor Greening: Evaluating methods and tools for assessing the impact of greening on IEQ, their development and deployment under current and future scenarios for decision-making. 

3. Health and Wellbeing: Investigating health and well-being benefits and unintended consequences of indoor greening under a changing climate.

4. Optimisation and Strategies: Exploring novel greening options, technologies, indoor plants, ‘do it yourself’(DIY) guidance, and optimal design and implementation of green spaces indoors and on/nearby buildings to maximise IEQ benefits.

We expect the proposals to have an ‘indoor greening’ focus and the GREENIN Network’s cross-cutting objectives: 

1. Promoting multidisciplinary systems thinking

2. Integrating visual appeal and human needs in indoor greening design

3. Scaling up and out through DIY approaches

4. Leveraging and synergising with existing projects

Each project will be expected to have clear objectives and allow for creativity and innovation.

Multi-disciplinary partnerships, especially between academic and non-academic partners, are welcomed. In particular, the research proposals should aim to address one or more of the three primary aspects:

(1) Testing Novel Indoor Greening Concepts: Explore innovative indoor greening solutions to establish proof-of-concept and assess the potential for upscaling and outscaling. For instance, implementing small-scale indoor farms to evaluate scientific, social, and cultural impact, or designing new frameworks to assess viability and user desirability of different greening options, or combining indoor greening solutions with retrofitting and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems for enhancing energy efficiency of buildings. 

(2) Understanding Temporal and Functional Complexity: To investigate how the benefits of indoor greening vary with factors like time of day and seasonality. Additionally, assess performance changes of indoor greening solutions (e.g., green walls, indoor ‘farms’) under varying environmental conditions and plant age. 

(3) Practical applications: Evaluate the feasibility of proposed solutions. Possible examples include: how indoor vertical growing towers (initially installed for aesthetic and food function) affect aspects of IEQ, accessibility and utilisation of green space; or assessing the impact of indoor plants positioned near windows and doors to evaluate their effectiveness in filtering or reducing the ingress of outdoor pollutants.

These feasibility studies will provide valuable insights into the practical implementation and effectiveness of various indoor greening strategies, informing future large-scale applications and policy decisions. 

Each project will be expected to have clear objectives and allow for creativity and innovation. ECR leadership will be encouraged, with mentorship from senior network members, expecting their involvement in all applications and leading roles commensurate with their career stage. Our goal is to have at least one sandpit project led by an ECR, providing an excellent opportunity for leadership skill development. Applicants will have approximately one month to submit their proposals following the open call, which will be issued shortly after the sandpit workshop.

Eligibility

Attendance, or representation by a team member,  at the sandpit workshop is required to apply for funding. Project proposals can be submitted by academics, councils, companies, registered charities, or environmental groups or schools. The lead applicant should be a UK resident and should hold a position in an organisation that lasts until the end of the proposed project duration. Each person can only submit one application as a Principal Investigator, although they can be co-investigators or partners on any number of proposals. Proposals can include international partners, though the funding will only be provided to the UK-based main applicants. Projects must have a clearly defined objective and give scope for thought and initiative. Upon completion, the lead applicant has to submit a final report of the project. Successful project teams will be asked to write a blog post to be published on the GREENIN Micro Network Plus website, will be invited to the GREENIN webinar series as speakers to share their findings, and will create a short video piece summarising their findings gained during the project.  

Data Management

Projects must provide a data management plan detailing key datasets. The project lead will be responsible for data management, ensuring compliance with UKRI and their institutional requirements. The award holder will work with the GREENIN Data Management Champion (DMC) to ensure project data is useful, accessible, securely stored, and uploaded to designated UKRI repositories.  Proposals must address Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) considerations and include data management plans aligned with the network's overarching strategies. Both EDI and data management will be integral parts of the evaluation criteria as well as the screening and selection process. 

PART 2: ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Evaluations of proposals will be based on clearly defined objectives, linked to the GREENIN Micro network plus and the cross-cutting themes (Part 1). To pass the screening stage and proceed to evaluation, applications must align with the ‘indoor greening’ focus, the GREENIN network scope, and incorporate EDI and Environmental Sustainability aspects. Applications will be scored based on the following criteria (each scored on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest):