Demand management
Demand management is being applied to this funding opportunity. As outlined in the ‘Who can apply’ section, organisations are permitted to submit one application as lead. However, organisations may collaborate in other ways on any number of outline applications.
Aims and scope
We expect this opportunity to fund between one and three doctoral focal awards to train the next generation of researchers and innovators. Doctoral focal awards provide support for areas that require a concentration of studentships in combination with a highly tailored training programme.
We are looking to support a small number of large-scale venture doctoral focal awards. Applications must support a minimum of 50 students, across up to five annual cohorts. These will enable doctoral students to integrate academically rigorous research with deep, experiential learning in entrepreneurship and venture creation.
Applications must:
- deliver doctoral training that strengthens links between research, innovation and enterprise and supports venture creation
- clearly support at least one of the eight high-growth sectors in the UK government’s Industrial Strategy, as well as UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s mission to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth
- move beyond classroom-based commercialisation training, with spin-out creation being the intended commercial output from the outset
- be shaped by real-world commercial opportunity
- demonstrate a strong capability and track record in academic quality, venture support and attracting investment, entrepreneurship training and commercialisation
- demonstrate the capacity to support cohort-based delivery at scale
We welcome applications from new collaborations as well as applications that expand on existing doctoral training investments. However, all applications must present a clear step-change from typical doctoral provision.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) are leading the delivery of the opportunity. However, this opportunity is open to proposals across the breadth of UKRI’s remit, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and arts (SHAPE) disciplines. For more information on the background of this funding opportunity, please see the ‘Additional Information’ section.
Expected outcomes
By the end of the award, funded programmes must demonstrate delivery of the following three outcomes.
Enhanced entrepreneurial and commercial confidence in cohorts of doctoral students
To demonstrate this outcome, students will, by the end of the award:
- complete doctoral level degrees that meet UK quality assurance frameworks
- gain practical experience of venture creation, including understanding of intellectual property (IP) ownership, protection and exploitation, and exposure to uncertainty, risk, regulation, finance and markets
- be able to make informed, evidence-based decisions about appropriate commercialisation pathways, including spin-out formation, licensing or alternatives
- be able to balance the demands of academic rigour and entrepreneurial dynamism, adapting their approach as opportunities and evidence evolve
- develop the skills, confidence and mindset to pursue a range of non-academic career pathways, including entrepreneurial and commercial roles
- progress through the venture journey as a cohort, building durable peer, investor and ecosystem networks
Increased high-value commercial outputs anchored in the UK
Expected outputs by the end of the award include:
- the creation of successful commercial outputs, such as spin-outs that are commercially viable and survive beyond five years. As projects progress and pivot, alternative appropriate high value commercial outputs may include social ventures, licences, IP portfolios, investable propositions, or equivalent commercial assets
- clear pathways for follow-on investment, adoption or scale, where appropriate
- commercial assets and ventures that are, wherever possible, anchored in the UK, aligned with UK national interests and delivering socioeconomic benefits to the UK
Enhanced connectivity between academic research and the market
Expected outputs by the end of the award include:
- strong integration between academic research and commercial opportunity
- graduates bridging effectively between research and enterprise communities, engaging effectively with businesses, investors, users and public sector partners
- research delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits to the UK, while remaining open, collaborative and internationally engaged
- responsible balancing between open research, commercial exploitation and public accountability, in line with UKRI terms and conditions for training funding
Venture creation is inherently high risk, and we recognise that not all students will deliver high value commercial outputs. Success can be progression on the entrepreneurial journey towards commercialisation, not just forming specific types of commercial entity or a guaranteed spin-out outcome.
Training model
You must outline a coherent and structured training programme to achieve the three outcomes. The programme must meet UKRI’s statement of expectations for doctoral training. You are encouraged to think creatively about the model, considering how:
- studentships will be advertised to encourage a diverse range of applicants
- the recruitment process will be fair, open and transparent in line with UKRI good practice principles in recruitment and training at a doctoral level
- students will receive structured time, training and support to undertake both high‑quality doctoral research and venture creation, with flexibility to test, refine and pivot commercial opportunities in response to market signals and technological changes
- doctoral projects will be designed and planned so that, barring exceptional circumstances, students submit their thesis within their funded period. The maximum funded period is five years full-time equivalent, but durations above four years full-time equivalent must be clearly justified as providing value for money
- students will be assessed, using approaches such as a traditional thesis, thesis by portfolio, artefact, composition or other formats that meet quality assurance
- students will move between academic and non-academic environments, including through placements where appropriate
- the programme will be delivered at cohort level, including cohort‑based training, peer learning and peer networking, to ensure that students have opportunities to collaborate, exchange ideas and benefit from peer-to-peer support training
- a cohort identity will be developed and maintained across the lifetime of the training programme.
- students will have access to relevant external networks, such as business advisors, investors and innovation ecosystems, to support experiential entrepreneurship and venture building
- a diverse and inclusive training environment will be fostered, with flexibility to support students at different stages of research maturity and commercial readiness
- student wellbeing will be embedded, recognising the pressures of venture creation. Support should include access to pastoral and mental health support beyond supervisors, and mechanisms to manage periods of heightened intensity. Support from supervisors, mentors and partners must appropriately reflect commercialisation realities such as iteration, pivots and non-linear progress
- risks will be identified and managed, including oversight of individual projects, adherence to subsidy control, trusted and responsible research and innovation, UK anchoring of foreground IP for national benefit, and compliance with UKRI open access requirements
Additionally, you may choose to extend aspects of training and support to students not following the full venture doctorate programme funded by this award, where those students have strong entrepreneurial ambition and their research has commercial potential. If this model is pursued, at least 60% of students must go through the full venture doctorate programme.
Governance and compliance
Strong governance will be required to deliver these awards, with effective oversight of all training, capability‑building and exploratory activities. Applications must include independent oversight, including an advisory board, to provide scrutiny, assurance and strategic challenge. This should form part of an approach to enable continuous learning, evaluation and adaptation.
You must ensure there is no duplication of UKRI funding and must be compliant with the Terms and conditions for training funding. We have highlighted several key aspects below.
On IP:
- under TGC 11, you are responsible for arrangements relating to the ownership and management of IP, including that intellectual assets are used to the benefit of society and the economy
- IP ownership and attribution must be set out clearly in a formal collaboration agreement in advance of projects starting. This includes background IP developed prior to collaboration, foreground IP generated by the doctoral student, and foreground IP that may be generated by partners working closely on the project
- you must outline how plans for collaboration agreements are proportionate, transparent and appropriate to the nature of the partnerships involved, including where IP is licensed to spin-outs or other commercial vehicles
- you must set out how the proposed arrangements comply with subsidy control requirements, where applicable
- results of research should be published in accordance with normal academic practice and UKRI’s policy on open access, balancing this with the protection of commercially sensitive information
- you must ensure timely deposit of doctoral theses (within 12 months of award, subject to justified and documented exceptions), appropriate acknowledgement of UKRI funding in publications, outputs and communications
On UK anchoring:
- through this opportunity, we aim to maximise the economic and societal value for the UK of IP and related assets generated through publicly funded doctoral training
- under TGC 5.2.4, students must be resident in the UK for the majority of their studies and any time spent overseas should be for the purposes of fieldwork or similar activities
- you must aim to ensure foreground IP is owned, governed and exploited by UK-based individuals or organisations, contributing to long-term national benefit
- the focus on ‘anchoring’ in the UK does not preclude international collaboration, licensing or scaling, but instead emphasises early-stage ownership, control and decision-making being retained within the UK
- UKRI recognises that decisions about where value is ultimately created are influenced by a wide range of factors beyond IP, such as access to markets, talent, visas, tax incentives and capital
On subsidy control:
- under TGCs 2.3.1 to 2.3.11, you must ensure at all times that the training grant funding awarded to you is compliant with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, or the EU State Aid regulations where Article 10 of the Windsor Framework Where funding could affect trade between Northern Ireland and the EU you should contact UKRI
- depending on the organisations involved in each consortium, the activities each organisation is undertaking, and the nature of their involvement (for example, whether or not they are subcontracted through a procurement process), part of the funding awarded through this opportunity may constitute a subsidy
- UKRI may determine that a subsidy scheme needs to be developed. If it is determined that a scheme is required, awards following full applications would need to be assessed against this scheme. Further information will be included in the full applications funding opportunity
- whether UKRI makes a subsidy scheme, individual subsidies or otherwise, any awards made will be subject to subsidy control considerations. This may affect the level of funding, requirements about co-investment by the lead or collaborating organisations, or the award conditions. UKRI may decide to make multiple separate awards to lead and collaborating organisations.
- UKRI will work with you to ensure that, if successful, any awards made comply with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, and awards will not be made until UKRI is satisfied
- you should seek independent legal advice on what this means for you, before applying
- you will be asked in your expression of interest whether funding will support activities in businesses or other enterprises
- further information about the Subsidy Control Act 2022 requirements can be found within the Subsidy Control Act 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)
- it is the responsibility of the lead organisation to make sure all collaborators and activity funded through the centre remain compliant with the eventual status of the award, whether this is on a no subsidy or a lawful subsidy basis. This should be accounted for in the governance of the award and the delivery of any activities and funding by the award. The lead organisation must advise UKRI of any potential or actual changes to this status
- it is important to note that it is the activity that an organisation is engaged in as part of the project and not its intentions, that define whether any support provided could be considered a subsidy
- there are also likely to be considerations regarding enterprises created through these awards, such as spinouts. These may be covered by minimal financial assistance or de minimis state aid, but again the lead organisation must advise UKRI of any potential or actual changes to the status
On trusted research and innovation (TR&I):
- the standard UKRI opportunity text on TR&I detailed later in this section applies less to this opportunity given the focus on anchoring in the UK. The specific bullet points have been prepared for this opportunity
- under TGCs including 2.2.2, 2.6.2 and 2.7.1, you must ensure that the award and all student projects are compliant with relevant UK legislation and UKRI trusted research and innovation principles
- UKRI’s principles aim to protect the UK’s IP, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse and exploitation. The focus of this opportunity on anchoring in the UK makes this especially relevant
- awards must embed TR&I principles in due diligence, partnership working and decisions relating to funding or collaboration
- ongoing monitoring of TR&I must be embedded in the governance and risk management of the award, and this will be monitored by UKRI through the advisory boards of successful awards
- students must also receive TR&I training
- due diligence may be required on lead organisations, collaborating organisations, subcontractors, project partners and other parts of consortia before awards are made
- see further guidance and information about TR&I, including where you can find additional support
Successful awards will be required to develop detailed plans and processes demonstrating how these essential elements will be embedded in your award, as well as other areas including:
- equality, diversity and inclusion
- student wellbeing
- responsible research and innovation
- environmental sustainability
Consortia
Applicants must demonstrate they can deliver a programme, which combines academically rigorous research training with venture creation. We particularly welcome applications from multi-organisation consortia which bring together expertise in doctoral training, entrepreneurship and venture creation. Applications are welcome from a wide range of organisations. See the Who can apply section for eligibility criteria.
All organisations must demonstrate added value from their inclusion. For example, funding, provision of access to facilities or training, or strategic links to important stakeholders or users. Cohesion across the consortium must be demonstrated in the application, including a clear case for the given size of their consortia.
Where an award is associated with more than one organisation (including collaborating organisations, subcontractors or project partners), a formal collaboration agreement is required between the organisations. This should set out the basis of collaboration between the organisations, including the allocation of resources throughout the award or individual student projects, and ownership of IP and rights to exploitation.
It will be the responsibility of the lead organisation to put such an agreement in place before student projects begin. The terms of collaboration agreements must not conflict with UKRI’s training grant terms and conditions, or any additional conditions associated with this funding opportunity.
Duration
Applications must have a maximum duration of 114 months. The duration must be justified by applicants in line with their proposed programme model, in particular the number of cohorts and the duration of doctoral study.
Where the end date of a studentship is subsequently extended later than the end date of the grant, in line with training grant conditions 6 and 8, award holders will be able to apply to UKRI at the time to extend the grant, which may be beyond 114 months.
Projects must start no earlier than 1 July 2027 and no later than 1 January 2028. The first students must start in the 2027 to 2028 academic year. Awards will have a fixed start date, on the date requested in the application.
Funding available
Up to £25 million funding is available for this opportunity. As a non-full economic cost award, UKRI will fund 100% of eligible costs listed in the opportunity, subject to subsidy control considerations outlined above. Eligible costs vary between UKRI training grants, so please check the lists below for full details.
UKRI minimum fees and stipend rates have only been confirmed for the 2026 to 2027 academic year. As a result, all costs requested in applications (including stipends and fees) should be calculated at your chosen October 2026 rates with no addition made to consider inflation over the length of the funding period. This includes the appropriate fee rate for your institution(s) and any enhanced stipend rates above the UKRI minimum, described below.
UKRI will include an allowance for fee and stipend indexation at the final funding stage. Indexation has to be covered by the available budget, so there is less than £25 million available at 2026 prices.
What we will fund
We will fund studentship costs up to a maximum of the equivalent of 50 students. This could be, for example, 100% funding for 50 students or 75% funding for 66 students.
As outlined in the What we are looking for section, applications must support a minimum of 50 students, and at least 60% of these must go through the full venture doctorate programme. This means that at least 30 individual people must be going through the full programme.
Students will be funded across a maximum of five cohorts.
At the outline application stage, applicants must outline a summary of the number of students and cohorts being requested. Further information is in the How to apply section. The numbers should align to the proposed delivery model and costs per studentship proposed in the application.
At the full application stage, further details will be requested through a cost template. Justifications for costs, numbers of students, durations of studentships and numbers of cohorts will be examined carefully to ensure value for money.
UKRI funding for studentship costs includes the following.
Tuition fees
Fees charged to UKRI cannot be higher than the fee charged by the university for home funded students on similar programmes.
UKRI’s standard 30% cap on international students will apply.
Stipends
The stipends must be at least at the minimum rates published by UKRI. We will not cover additional college fees. Applicants are welcome to request funding for enhanced stipends, where justified, to attract students in the context of the area of research and training, the location in the UK, and UK skills need.
Stipend support may also be covered for doctoral students based for the majority of their time in a company, or other non-academic organisation. Applicants proposing more innovative options such as contributions to salaries must contact UKRI before submission, to discuss the best route to fund this. Applicants must ensure at all times that training grant funding is compliant with the Subsidy Control Act 2022, and UKRI must be satisfied with this before making awards.
Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)
This covers items for individual students such as travel, consumables, and facility access where this is linked to conducting the research of the project, or specialised training such as a summer school only being attended by a student due to their project.
UKRI training grant condition 4.5 states that at least 50% of the total cost of any studentship must be drawn from UKRI. This condition will be waived for this opportunity. Award holders will therefore be allowed students where more than 50% of their studentship costs come from non-UKRI sources, if they are able to attract enough leverage to achieve this. These students will still be recorded on UKRI’s studentship data system and count towards the total cohort size for the 30% cap for international students.
Staff costs
We will fund leadership and management costs, where these are specific and proportionate to delivery of this award.
Other costs
As well as the studentship and staff costs above, we may also fund other costs including:
- costs to set up new focal awards
- the development of training which forms part of the cohort training package, for example, a course taken by a whole cohort or offered as a module as part of a student’s training package
- direct costs that are explicitly linked to training activities and student development
- additional support needed to facilitate diversity and mobility of career paths, and to accommodate doctoral students at different career stages or employed in relevant industrial sectors
- wider career development experience for students
- innovative routes for student recruitment and widening the participation of underrepresented groups in doctoral study
If successful you will have flexibility in how you use the funding awarded and we encourage flexibility and virement between headings, subject to the standard UKRI terms and conditions of training grants. The only exception will be where UKRI makes separate awards to lead and collaborating organisations to reflect subsidy control considerations, where there will be limitations on viring across separate awards. Be aware that the minimum numbers of students will still need to be supported.
What we will not fund
UKRI will not fund the following costs:
- direct costs associated with applying for IP protection (including patent filing costs) and company incorporation
- equipment over £25,000 in value (including VAT). Smaller items of equipment (individually under £25,000) can be included under RTSG or other costs, as appropriate
- costs associated with student supervision, for organisations in receipt of fees from this grant or of quality-related research degree programme supervision funds
- visa and international health surcharge costs for international students
- estates and indirect costs
Supporting skills and talent
We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.
Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
EDI is a core feature of this funding opportunity, in line with UKRI’s principles on EDI, as detailed here: Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). We want to work with our partners to shape a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive system of research and innovation that is an integral part of society.
Your doctoral training programme should work to provide everyone involved with an opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, the award.
Applicants must demonstrate at full application stage how their EDI strategy will embed the core principles of EDI at all levels and across all aspects of the award, including:
- increasing access to doctoral study, including recruitment
- working practices, including individualised student support
- wellbeing support, including mental health
- monitoring and evaluation, including a baseline and plans for improvement
We would expect your EDI strategy to describe how your doctoral programme is accessible to a diverse range of people and needs, and how you will be removing barriers to participation across your doctoral programme and associated processes. Your application should demonstrate how you will create and maintain a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and staff.
You should refer to equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI and relevant UKRI councils’ EDI action plans.
As outlined above, UKRI will require successful applicants to develop detailed EDI strategies, activities and commitments. These will be regularly reviewed by UKRI. Data will be collected on at least a yearly basis via annual reports, and we will reserve the right to access these data across the lifetime of the award. See the UKRI data collection policy for more information.
Legacy and impact
Training programmes which are supported by this funding opportunity are done so with the intention of developing a legacy of training excellence. Applications must demonstrate consideration of the legacy and impacts of the doctoral training programme beyond the lifetime of UKRI investment.
Reporting requirements and monitoring
We expect award holders to monitor progress towards the vision and objectives of your training programme, as well as evidence impact from this investment.
This information will be used by UKRI to review the success of our training investments. Information provided will also be used to provide assurance that the focal awards are being managed appropriately and are progressing in accordance with the original funding application. This will be conducted in various ways, including:
- mandatory annual reports
- a mid-term review of progress
- hosting a regular visit by UKRI staff
Successful applicants will be expected to respond to other reporting requirements when requested.
UKRI will use key information required from training programmes supported by this funding opportunity in reports and publications.
Applicants are expected to describe their approach to monitoring and evaluation, outlining their success measures and baselines and a continuous improvement process built in within their applications.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.
As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.
See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.
