The investment in the 65 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) centres for doctoral training (CDTs) totals more than £1 billion.
The CDTs will support leading research in areas of national importance, including critical technologies such as:
- artificial intelligence (AI)
- quantum technologies
- semiconductors
- telecoms
- engineering biology
Nationally important research
They include:
- a centre led by King’s College London which will train researchers in advanced engineering for personalised surgery, such as micro-surgical robots, AI-assisted surgery, digital surgical twins creating virtual replicas of patients’ anatomy to inform surgeons about how to tailor procedures, and chemical techniques which allow for surgery ‘without the knife’
- a centre led by Heriot-Watt University will prepare research leaders for a just transition and explore how technologies such as carbon capture, green hydrogen and sustainable fuels can support the UK’s industrial heartlands to meet their net zero target
- a centre led by the University of Nottingham aims to drive down the environmental impact of chemicals manufacturing which so many sectors and products rely on, from pharmaceuticals and fragrances to adhesives and lubricants, to create sustainable, circular processes to drive decarbonisation
- a centre led by Cardiff University will lead research to improve the design, manufacture and environmental sustainability of semiconductors, which are crucial to so many current and future technologies such as 6G wireless, high-capacity data storage and electric vehicles
- a Ministry of Defence-funded (MOD) centre led by The University of Edinburgh will focus on sensing, processing and AI for defence and security systems
- a centre led by the University of Bristol will focus on the cybersecurity and resilience of the large-scale infrastructures which are at the heart of our daily lives and economic prosperity, such as water, energy, transport and banking
Unleash the potential of future tech
Science and Technology Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said:
As innovators across the world break new ground faster than ever, it is vital that government, business and academia invests in ambitious UK talent, giving them the tools to pioneer new discoveries that benefit all our lives while creating new jobs and growing the economy.
By targeting critical technologies including artificial intelligence, and future telecoms, we are supporting world class universities across the UK to build the skills base we need to unleash the potential of future tech and maintain our country’s reputation as a hub of cutting-edge research and development.
A testament to the abundance of research excellence
Professor Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of EPSRC, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), said:
The Centres for Doctoral Training announced today will help to prepare the next generation of researchers, specialists and industry experts across a wide range of sectors and industries.
Spanning locations across the UK and a wide range of disciplines, the new centres are a vivid illustration of the UK’s depth of expertise and potential, which will help us to tackle large-scale, complex challenges and benefit society and the economy.
The high calibre of both the new centres and applicants is a testament to the abundance of research excellence across the UK, and EPSRC’s role as part of UKRI is to invest in this excellence to advance knowledge and deliver a sustainable, resilient and prosperous nation.
Long-term support for doctoral training
More than 4,000 doctoral students will be trained over the next nine years, building on EPSRC’s long-standing record of sustained support for doctoral training.
Total investment in the CDTs includes:
- £479 million by EPSRC, this funding includes £16 million of additional UKRI funding to support CDTs in quantum technologies
- over £7 million from Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), also part of UKRI, to co-fund three CDTs
- £16 million by the MOD to support two CDTs
- £169 million by UK universities
- £420 million in financial and in-kind support from business partners, public sector and charity partners
This investment includes an additional £135 million for CDTs, which will start in 2025.
Given cost increases since 2018, the total number of students funded through this round of CDTs is approximately 5% less than the 2018 investment.
Supporting critical technologies
The new CDTs will boost UK expertise in the five critical technologies set out in the UK Science and Technology Framework):
- five quantum technologies CDTs
- five AI CDTs
- two engineering biology CDTs
- four semiconductor CDTs
- three telecoms CDTs (note one of these is also included under semiconductors)
New CDTs will also lead research into emerging areas such as:
- tackling harmful noise and its impact on health, education and other sectors
- addressing the challenges facing our water systems in the face of climate change
- applying AI and machine learning to fluid dynamics, with potential applications across net zero, healthcare and improving industrial competitiveness
- developing organ-chips, small, bioengineered devices which replicate important aspects of human health and disease and offer potential as pre-clinical test models with better predictivity
- addressing the grand mathematical challenges raised by the significant levels of uncertainty in our future, applying mathematical modelling, scientific computing, statistics and machine learning to key climate-related problems
More than 1,400 companies, higher education institutions, charities and civic organisations are taking part in the CDT.
CDTs have a significant reputation in training future UK academics, industrialists and innovators who have gone on to develop the latest technologies.
Highlighting impacts from former students
Examples of impact from previous EPSRC CDT investment include:
- research led by doctoral student Jana Skirnewskaja could help drivers see road hazards
- former CDT student Dr Sophie Morse has improved the way drugs are delivered to the brain using a non-invasive and targeted ultrasound technology combined with tiny bubbles
- former CDT student Dr Melanie Whitfield is developing an ‘electronic nose’ sensor which could detect food spoilage before it can spread, reducing food waste and the customer’s carbon footprint. She is working with food distribution company, Pan United, to put it into practice
- a former CDT student co-founded a spin-out in 2020, Forefront RF, which designs and sells hardware and semiconductor chips and was recognised as a ‘rising star’ by Sifted’s semiconductors 2.0, the hottest commodity in tech briefing
Further information
Funded CDTs by primary EPSRC theme of relevance
Note that many CDTs are interdisciplinary and cut across multiple themes and research areas.
CDTs often have a wider management team and include multiple institutions, but we have only included the listed principal investigator and lead organisation for brevity.
Advanced materials and physical sciences
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science: harnessing aerosol science for improved security, resilience and global health
Led by: Professor Jonathan Reid, University of Bristol
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Technology-Enhanced Chemical Synthesis (TECS)
Led by: Professor Jonathan Clayden, University of Bristol
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Synthesis for a Healthy Planet
Led by: Professor Michael Willis, University of Oxford
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Chemical Technologies: a systems approach
Led by: Professor Matthew Davidson, University of Bath
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital and Automated Materials Chemistry
Led by: Professor Alessandro Troisi, University of Liverpool
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Biology: empowering UK biotech innovation
Led by: Dr Laura Barter, Imperial College London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in 2D Materials of Tomorrow (2DMoT)
Led by: Professor Irina Grigorieva, The University of Manchester
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Resilient Chemistry: feedstock to function (CDT-F2F)
Led by: Professor Peter Licence, University of Nottingham
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems (HetSys II)
Led by: Professor James Kermode, University of Warwick
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Use-Inspired Photonic Sensing and Metrology
Led by: Professor Derryck Reid, Heriot-Watt University
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Superconductivity: enabling transformative technologies
Led by: Professor Antony Carrington, University of Bristol
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Inorganic Materials for Advanced Manufacturing (IMAT)
Led by: Professor Simon Aldridge, University of Oxford
AI, robotics, digital security and resilience
EPSRC and MOD Centre for Doctoral Training in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence and Security
Led by: Professor Jordan Cheer, University of Southampton
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Machine Learning Systems
Led by: Professor Amos Storkey, The University of Edinburgh
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Cyber Secure Everywhere: resilience in a world of disappearing system boundaries
Led by: Professor Awais Rashid, University of Bristol
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Cyber-physical Risk
Led by: Professor Hervé Borrion, University College London
EPSRC and MOD Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensing, Processing, and AI for Defence and Security (SPADS)
Led by: Professor James Hopgood, The University of Edinburgh
Energy and decarbonisation
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience
Led by: Professor Robert Dorrell, University of Hull
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in SATURN (Skills and Training Underpinning a Renaissance in Nuclear)
Led by: Professor Scott Heath, The University of Manchester
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fusion Power
Led by: Professor Roderick Vann, University of York
EPSRC Industrial Centre for Doctoral Training in Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE)
Led by: Professor David Ingram, The University of Edinburgh
EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (NET2ZERO)
Led by: Professor Patricia Thornley, Aston University
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero
Led by: Professor Dani Strickland, Loughborough University
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Maritime Energy Solutions
Led by: Professor John Bridgeman, University of Liverpool
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Green Industrial Futures
Led by: Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer, Heriot-Watt University
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities Plus (ReNU+)
Led by: Professor Neil Beattie, Northumbria University
Engineering
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Infrastructure and Built Environment: unlocking net zero (FIBE3 CDT)
Led by: Professor Abir Al-Tabbaa, University of Cambridge
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Sound Futures
Led by: Professor Trevor Cox, University of Salford
EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Biology (EngBio CDT)
Led by: Dr Lucia Marucci, University of Bristol
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Sensor Technologies and Applications in an Uncertain World
Led by: Professor Clemens Kaminski, University of Cambridge
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in “Diversity led, mission-driven research”
Led by: Dr Marie Muellenbroich, University of Glasgow
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Process Industries: net zero (PINZ CDT)
Led by: Professor Adam Harvey, Newcastle University
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0 with the Henry Royce Institute
Led by: Professor William Parnell, The University of Manchester
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Infrastructure and Resilience II (WIRe II)
Led by: Professor Peter Jarvis, Cranfield University
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Robotics and AI for Net Zero
Led by: Dr Simon Watson, The University of Manchester
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Aviation
Led by: Professor Panagiotis Laskaridis, Cranfield University
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Future Fluid Dynamics
Led by: Dr Oliver Harlen, University of Leeds
Health technologies
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies (COaCT)
Led by: Professor Hazel Screen, Queen Mary University of London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training iN digGital heAlth technoloGiEs (ENGAGE)
Led by: Professor Rebecca Shipley, University College London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Accelerated Medicines Design and Development
Led by: Professor Gareth Williams, University College London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data-Driven Healthcare (DRIVE-Health)
Led by: Professor Richard Dobson, King’s College London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Healthcare Data Science
Led by: Professor Thomas Nichols, University of Oxford
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Engineering for Personalised Surgery and Intervention
Led by: Professor Sebastien Ourselin, King’s College London
EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Solutions for Antimicrobial Resistance
Led by: Dr Lena Ciric, University College London
Information and communication technologies
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Collaborative Computational Modelling at the Interface
Led by: Professor Timo Betcke, University College London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Photonic and Electronic Systems
Led by: Professor Alwyn Seeds, University College London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Autonomous Intelligent Machines and Systems
Led by: Dr Michael Osborne, University of Oxford
EPSRC CDT in Future Open SecuRe NeTworks
Led by: Professor Rahim Tafazolli, University of Surrey
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Diversity in Data Visualization
Led by: Professor Jason Dykes and Professor Stephanie Wilson, City, University of London
Manufacturing and the circular economy
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Formulation Engineering: formulation for net zero
Led by: Professor Mark Simmons, University of Birmingham
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Machining, Assembly, and Digital Engineering for Manufacturing (MADE4Manufacturing)
Led by: Professor Neil Sims, The University of Sheffield
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering
Led by: Professor Janice Barton, University of Bristol
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital Transformation of Metals Industry
Led by: Professor Hongbiao Dong, University of Leicester
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Cyber-physical systems for Medicines Development and Manufacturing (CEDAR)
Led by: Professor Alastair Florence, University of Strathclyde
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing
Led by: Professor Peter Smowton, Cardiff University
Mathematical sciences
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Statistical Applied Mathematics at Bath (SAMBa)
Led by: Professor Alexander Cox, University of Bath
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Statistics and Machine Learning
Led by: Dr Sarah Filippi, Imperial College London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Algebra, Geometry and Quantum Fields (AGQ)
Led by: Professor Tara Brendle, University of Glasgow
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Statistics and Operational Research in Partnership with Industry (STOR-i)
Led by: Professor Idris Eckley, Lancaster University
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in the Mathematics for our Future Climate: theory, data and simulation
Led by: Professor Dan Crisan, Imperial College London
Quantum technologies
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Information Science and Technologies
Led by: Dr Jorge Barreto, University of Bristol
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Computation and Quantum Communications (QC2)
Led by: Professor Paul Warburton, University College London
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Quantum Technologies
Led by: Professor Stefan Kuhr, University of Strathclyde
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Informatics
Led by: Dr Christiaan Johan Marie Heunen, The University of Edinburgh
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Technology Engineering
Led by: Dr Timothy Freegarde, University of Southampton
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