Overview
Successful applicants from the adventurous manufacturing round 2 funding opportunity are invited to apply for further funding to extend the research in progress and enhance the outcomes of mission-led research for the UK.
Applicants should submit a full proposal addressing how they will build on the research conducted in their initial adventurous manufacturing project. The proposed work must fall within EPSRC’s remit, focusing on manufacturing research and supporting EPSRC’s vision of a sustainable, resilient, thriving and productive UK-wide manufacturing sector.
Synopsis
The adventurous manufacturing initiative was launched in 2018 to encourage highly transformative research in the near term which has the potential to disrupt the future manufacturing landscape. Proposals contributing to the following research priorities were invited:
- 21st century products
- digital manufacturing
- sustainable industries
- new industrial systems
This remit allowed for projects across the whole spectrum of manufacturing research, including simulation, design, production, fabrication, systems and services leading to successful processes and products.
The opportunity was aimed at academics already working in these areas as well as those working at the interface between underpinning science and manufacturing who wanted to move their work into the manufacturing domain.
The EPSRC manufacturing and the circular economy theme are now looking to expand on the research funded in adventurous manufacturing round 2 by providing further funding to extend the research in progress and enhance the impact of the initiative.
Up to £4 million will be provided for this opportunity, for projects of up to £1 million EPSRC contribution (80% full economic cost) and up to 36 months in duration.
Proposals within the scope of this funding opportunity should explain how they will expand on the results or impact of their round 2 grant.
This funding opportunity is for standard research proposals.
Scope
Manufacturing research is a key feature of EPSRC’s engineering net zero priority ambition, details of which can be found in our strategic delivery plan. Through our engineering net zero priority we aim to deliver systems approaches and solutions to:
- use the Earth’s resources as efficiently as possible
- eliminate pollution and contributions to landfill
- help deliver a sustainable zero carbon future
The delivery plan identifies specific opportunities and investment activities to contribute to the UK manufacturing research and innovation landscape.
The vision of EPSRC’s manufacturing and the circular economy theme is a sustainable, resilient, thriving and productive UK-wide manufacturing sector and a truly circular economy. To enable this, our mission is to work in partnership with stakeholders across and beyond UK Research and Innovation to:
- support high impact, interdisciplinary research that is co-created with users and broader stakeholders
- actively manage an environmentally sustainable portfolio to accelerate translation and implementation of fundamental research to deliver real world impacts (economic, social and environmental), enhancing the UK manufacturing base and realising a more circular economy
- embed consideration of and design for manufacturing and the circular economy, in research and training across the engineering and physical sciences landscape and throughout the research and innovation lifecycle
This follow-on opportunity aims to fund excellent manufacturing research that will contribute to realising the transformative potential of the projects funded through the adventurous manufacturing round 2 opportunity held in 2020.
Successful grant holders from that opportunity are invited to apply for funding for projects that build on work undertaken in the initial grant. The follow-on project must take forward, and be clearly linked to, the transformative research vision of the original project and build on its research outputs.
The ongoing research vision may be adapted in response to emerging research findings, priorities, or opportunities, as well as the addition of new partners where appropriate. The suitability of the case for follow-on funding will be assessed by reviewers under the ‘fit to opportunity’ criterion.
These projects may include:
- undertaking further scientific and technical development of the original project findings
- work to broaden the impact of the research, including identifying opportunities for user engagement and translation into UK manufacturing industries through new stakeholder partnerships
The project must focus on excellent mission-led research, driving this forward to create impact.
The research vision and the majority of the work to be carried out must fall within EPSRC’s remit. Proposals must focus on manufacturing research and support EPSRC’s vision of a sustainable, resilient, thriving and productive UK-wide manufacturing sector.
Funding should be requested solely for a new programme of activities which should not duplicate work from the original project. Proposals falling outside this remit or where there is duplication may be rejected without reference to peer review.
Funding available
There is up to £4 million available and your project can be up to £1 million 80% full economic cost. Projects are expected to be up to 36 months in duration.
Equipment over £10,000 in value (including VAT) is not available through this opportunity. Smaller items of equipment (individually under £10,000) should be in the ‘directly incurred – other costs’ heading.
EPSRC approach to equipment funding.
Responsible innovation
You are expected to work within the EPSRC framework for responsible innovation.
International collaboration
Applicants planning to include international collaborators on their proposal should visit Trusted Research for guidance on getting the most out of international collaboration while protecting intellectual property, sensitive research and personal information.
