EPSRC reviewed its approach to responsive mode opportunities on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service following our October 2023 closing dates. For more information on our approach, including timelines, please see our transition webpages.
From November 2023, our approach to responsive mode will change. We will not publish closing dates for individual rounds, instead we will batch applications internally. You should apply when your application is ready for submission and not be concerned about a closing date.
The Funding Service system requires a closing date and this will appear on the funding opportunity, do not wait for this date to submit your application as we will be processing applications on an ongoing basis.
Applications will be batched for assessment and sent to the most appropriate responsive mode panel meeting when they reach this stage of the process. Applications submitted in late 2023 and early 2024 are likely to be considered at panels in September 2024. Our responsive mode panel meetings are: Engineering, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences. These panels are expected to run on a quarterly basis after September 2024.
Due to the agile development of the Funding Service, we will need to make changes to this opportunity to allow technical updates or new policies to be implemented. No changes are planned to EPSRC responsive mode opportunities before November 2024. However, if updates are required, we will communicate these changes at least eight weeks before they are implemented (excluding major public holiday periods).
How to apply
We are running this funding opportunity on the new Funding Service. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
To apply
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
- Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
Find out more about How applicants use the Funding Service and also How research offices use the Funding Service.
We will not be returning applications for amendment. If an application is withdrawn prior to peer review or office rejected due to substantive errors in the application, then you will need to submit a new application.
Personal data
Processing personal data
EPSRC as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.
Publication of outcomes
EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity.
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word count: maximum 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We may make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, so make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
- opinion-formers
- policymakers
- the public
- the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
- context
- the challenge the project addresses
- aims and objectives
- potential applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- fellow
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
- visiting researcher
For fellowships, the role of fellow will be responsible for intellectual leadership and management (equivalent to project lead). You can only list one fellow on the application.
We generally do not allow project co-leads to be named on fellowship applications. This is because a fellowship is an individual award for an applicant, based on their individual circumstances and career.
We would only consider project co-leads on a fellowship application if they are contributing expertise that is not available in the skills set of the fellow and such expertise is essential to the success of the fellowship; for example, clinicians as project co-lead on fellowships associated with healthcare technologies research.
In all cases, the project co-lead would not be permitted to take over the operation of the fellowship if the fellow leaves the project.
Find out more about UKRI’s new grant roles.
Application questions
Thematic area alignment
Word count: 1
Select the EPSRC thematic area your application most closely aligns to. This should be the theme where the majority of the novelty in the research lies
In the text box, copy the letter corresponding to your selected theme:
A. artificial intelligence (AI)
B. digital security and resilience
C. energy and decarbonisation
D. engineering
E. healthcare technologies
F. information and communication technologies (ICT)
G. manufacturing
H. mathematical sciences
I. physical sciences
J. quantum technologies
If you are applying as part of the critical technologies signpost please add the number 1 after your theme letter (with no space).
Additional guidance
This is for administrative purposes to help the initial application processing. We will check your choice and make a final decision on which theme will lead the peer review of your application.
Fellowship focus areas
Word count: 1
Select which are the focus areas for your fellowship.
In the text box, copy the letters corresponding to your selected areas (with no spaces). You may select as many as are relevant:
A. discovery science
B. innovation
C. instrument and technique development
D. software engineering
Additional guidance
This is for administrative purposes to help us to monitor the types of fellowship applications we receive.
Vision and Approach
Create a document that includes your responses to all criteria. The document should not be more than six sides of A4, single spaced in paper in 11point Arial (or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm. You may include images, graphs and tables. You can have an additional 1 page for a diagrammatic workplan.
For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘Vision and Approach’.
Save this document as a single PDF file, no bigger than 8MB. Unless specifically requested, please do not include any personal data within the attachment.
If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected.
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.
What are you hoping to achieve and how will you deliver your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
For the Vision, explain how your proposed work:
- is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the fields or areas
- has the potential to advance current understanding, generates new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area
- is timely given current trends, context and needs
- impacts world leading research, society, the economy or the environment
Within the Vision section we also expect you to:
- identify the potential direct or indirect benefits and who the beneficiaries might be
For the Approach, explain how you have designed your work so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
- if applicable, uses a clear and transparent methodology
- if applicable, summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed
- will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
- describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place, and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work
Within the Approach section we also expect you to:
- demonstrate access to the appropriate services, facilities, infrastructure, or equipment to deliver the proposed work
- provide a project plan including milestones and timelines in the form of a Gantt chart or similar (additional one-page A4)
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word count: 2,500
Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:
- the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
- the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
- the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
- contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
The word count for this section is 2,500 words, 2,000 words to be used for R4RI modules and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.
Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.
Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:
- contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
- the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
- contributions to the wider research and innovation community
- contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit
Additions
Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).
Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. If using visual elements, you must:
- use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
- insert each new image onto a new line
- provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
- files must be smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new Funding Service.
For full details, see Eligibility as an individual.
Personal aspirations and continued professional development
Word count: 500
How will this fellowship develop you and your career?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Using the text box, you should explain:
- how the award of the fellowship will progress your career over and above your current trajectory
- the professional development goals you have put in place to enable your career development, and the plans you have put in place to enable you to reach these goals
- why you need this award at this time to achieve this career progression
- how the programme will benefit you on your career journey
You should give details of how you will develop:
- knowledge of ethical, responsible and inclusive research culture as well as research expertise
- future career aspirations and potential developments
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. If using visual elements, you must:
- use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
- insert each new image onto a new line
- provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
- files must be smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Team and community leadership
Word count: 500
How will you develop and support teams and people around you and lead in the creation of a modern research environment?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Using the text box, you should explain:
- how you will ensure continued research and professional development of staff or other colleagues you will be managing on the project, to have a positive research experience with opportunities or support to progress their own careers
- how you will lead by example in developing a modern research environment and wider community development (for example, research integrity, ethics and responsible research and innovation, equality, diversity and inclusion, advocacy or advisory roles, stakeholder engagement, participation in peer review, influencing policy, public engagement or outreach)
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. If using visual elements, you must:
- use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
- insert each new image onto a new line
- provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
- files must be smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Research organisation support
Word count: 500
What support is being provided from the research organisation in underpinning your fellowship?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Considering your career trajectory and how the support offered forms a cohesive career development package for you, use the text box to explain who you have engaged with in your research organisation (name and role) and what they have said your research organisation will provide, covering:
- how your expertise fits within the wider interest and strategies of the university and department
- what development and training opportunities will be provided and how they form a cohesive career development package tailored to your aims and aspirations
- what mentoring and support arrangements are proposed and how they are appropriate to you
- what practical or financial support is being provided and how this improves the application
Creating a positive change in the research community by championing an identified topic
Word count: 1,000
How will you champion your proposed open plus topic to create a positive change in the research community?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Given that you have allocated time within your fellowship to create a positive change in the research environment, use the text box to explain how you have:
- identified the area you intend to champion for your programme
- considered your current knowledge of the modern research environment and how you will develop yourself further to deliver your proposed work
- explained the timeliness and relevance of your chosen area
- explained the objectives of your plus component in this context
- planned to implement these objectives, including your ability to be an advocate for this area and to influence
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. If using visual elements, you must:
- use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
- insert each new image onto a new line
- provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
- files must be smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
References
Word count: 1,000
List the references you have used to support your application.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Include all references in this section, not in the rest of the application questions.
You should not include any other information in this section.
We advise you not to include hyperlinks, as assessors are not obliged to access the information they lead to or consider it in their assessment of your application.
If linking to web resources, to maintain the information’s integrity, include persistent identifiers (such as digital object identifiers) where possible.
You must not include links to web resources to extend your application.
Project partners
Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.
A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities.
Add the following project partner details:
- the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
- the project partner’s contact name and email address
- the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value
If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, please remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Project partners: letters or emails of support
Word count: 10
Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the previous Project partners section.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
If you do not have any project partners, simply add ‘N/A’ into the text box, mark this section as complete and move to the next section.
If you have named project partners in the previous ‘contributions’ section, enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box.
Each letter or email you provide should:
- confirm the partner’s commitment to the project
- clearly explain the value, relevance and possible benefits of the work to them
- describe any additional value that they bring to the project
- refer to our project partners letters of support guidance for further information
Save letters or emails of support from each project partner you have listed in your application in a single PDF no bigger than 8MB. Unless specially requested, please do not include any personal data within the attachment.
For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘project partner’.
If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected.
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.
Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the contributions template.
Do not provide letters of support from host and project co-leads research organisations.
Facilities
Word count: 250
Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
If you will need to use a facility, follow your proposed facility’s normal access request procedures. Ensure you have prior agreement so that if you are offered funding, they will support the use of their facility on your project.
For each requested facility you will need to provide the:
- name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 35KB)
- proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list
- confirmation you have their agreement where required
If you will not need to use a facility, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
Sensitive information
Word count: 1
Is there sensitive information you need to share with UKRI that you do not want shared with assessors?
If you do not have anything to share, enter ‘No’ into the text box, mark this section as complete and move on to the next section.
If you, or a key team member, need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, enter ‘Yes’ in the text box.
Then email us on tfschangeepsrc@epsrc.ukri.org You must include in the subject line: <EPSRC responsive mode, sensitive info, opportunity number, application number>.
Typical examples of confidential information include:
- the applicant is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
- declaration of interest
- additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the Applicant and team capability section
- conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
- the application is an invited resubmission
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, see UKRI’s privacy notice.
Resources and cost justification
Using the costs table within the resources and cost summary, provide details of the total funding required under each fund heading. You should include high-level costs only, not a detailed breakdown of individual items.
Word count: 1,000
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
In the text box, justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:
- project staff
- significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
- any equipment that will cost more than £10,000
- any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities
- all facilities and infrastructure costs
- all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’
Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:
- are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
- represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise potential outcomes and impacts
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word count: 500
What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:
- the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations
- how you will manage these considerations
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. If using visual elements, you must:
- use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
- insert each new image onto a new line
- provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
- files must be smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) will be included in the Funding Service. These will ask about numbers, species or strain and justification about:
- genetic and biological risk
- research involving the use of animals
- conducting research with animal overseas
- research involving human participation
- research involving human tissues or biological samples
