SPARKHub is completing updates and will launch on Nov. 17th , 2026
SPARKHub helps research organisations and teams reduce their environmental impact through practical guidance, certification, and community-led good practice. Crucially, it can support all areas and activities related to research (see initial list below). It will be free and open-access to use. Developed by UKRI in collaboration with research communities it is designed to evolve alongside research needs. The project is supported by international research funding organisations, who will be announced on launch date (November 17th, 2026). UKRI will transition hosting of SPARKHub to Host in early 2027.
You will find on the website:
Benefits include recognition for those who participate through certification, organisational resources, cost savings for measures, recognition for contribution of content and case studies, easy good-practice sharing, and (most importantly) more sustainable research.
SPARKHub will launch an organisational-level module and certification in 2027.
To learn how to get involved, including contributing content or piloting, find out more by contacting directly at UKRIsustainability@ukri.org
Why SPARKHub?
SPARKHub provides transparent, open-access, and comprehensive standards for sustainable research-associated practices. It recognises that many researchers are multi-disciplinary, and so they need a single, easy, source of good practice.
It aligns with the Heidelberg Agreement, as well as provides a framework to achieve much of the UK Concordat for Environmentally Sustainable Research & Innovation Practice. Its governance is led by research funders to allow a unified approach to more sustainable research. Achieving SPARKHub will support organisational sustainability initiatives such as net-zero strategies, or ISO certifications.
How does certification work?
At group level, each group will complete their award level (first Bronze, then Silver, then Gold), by addressing every action (even if to indicate why it was not feasible). The group submits their content on pre-set dates, and then the SPARKHub platform matches up each group with two others, one for them to audit, and one to audit them. You can reject an auditor should you need to, and may be rematched.
The system then allows you between 3-6 weeks to complete your audits. Once both audits are complete and you pass yours, you will get a publicly available certificate. The certificate lasts 2 years, though if you want to participate again sooner you may.
Peer-audits are remote to minimise travel, but you submit evidence to support your activity. As SPARKHub enables audits, central sustainability teams spend more time supporting activity, as opposed to administrating audits. This means SPARKHub can easily scale, and crucially promotes knowledge-sharing across international borders. Central sustainability teams still have full visibility of all activity at their organisation, with easily downloadable reports.
Who has initiated SPARKHub?
UKRI has developed SPARKHub with input from research funding organisations, health professionals, and the research community. UKRI will hand over management of the platform to an international body in early 2027, but launch November 17th. To allow SPARKHub to be free an open-access to the public research sector, a group of funders are co-supporting the platform.
Who can use SPARKHub?
While all content is open-access, the platform is targeted at anyone working in publicly supported research areas, and supports researchers, technical staff, some clinicians, sustainability managers, research management, funders, and operational staff.
What does SPARKHub provide?
SPARKHub provides concrete actions and guidance and allows research and some clinical groups to track their progress and achieve recognition through certifications. Scroll up to see some of the activities which will be covered, and note that we’re still adding. If you wish to contribute to one you don’t see, get in touch.
How does SPARKHub align with organisational certifications?
Application of SPARKHub will support organisational certifications (for e.g. EMAS, or some ISO standards), in that it provides actionable steps for groups and organisations to take.
How will content and the platform be managed?
SPARKHub provides a transparent mechanism for quality assurance on content development. As such, a board of experts will be selected to curate content. This board will be elected in 2027.
Should you wish to contribute any content you have available, you may either submit a case study on this page or get in contact. All contributors will be recognised as authors.
The platform itself will be managed by an independent international organisation who will be announced at launch date (Nov. 17th). They will hire a 4-6 of staff to ensure the platform grows in excellence. If interested to join the team, watch-out for announcements from launch!
How has the platform and content been developed?
To develop the mechanism of certification and platform, UKRI organised a series of workshops and consultations in 2025. If you or your organisation wish to input, please get in contact. The content has been sourced from a variety of experts around the sector, and authorship / sourcing is provided for transparency and recognition of those who have commendably supported this initiative.
