We are running this funding opportunity on the new UKRI Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. 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.
- 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.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- 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.
Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
When including images, you must:
- provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit).
- insert each new image onto a new line.
- use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format.
Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:
- sentences or paragraphs of text
- tables
- excessive quantities of images
A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
References
References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:
- references are easily identifiable by the assessors
- references are formatted as appropriate to your research
- persistent identifiers are used where possible
General use of hyperlinks
Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.
For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.
Deadline
Since June 2024, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has run the strategic infrastructure opportunity as an open call. We will not publish closing dates for individual rounds, instead we will publish the batching period for each round. Applicants should apply when their application is ready for submission and not be concerned about a closing date.
Due to systems requirement a closing date will appear on the UKRI Funding Service approximately 18 months from the publication of this opportunity. Please do not wait for this date to submit your application, we will be processing applications throughout 2026 and onwards.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
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.
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email TFSchangeEPSRC@epsrc.ukri.org
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
- individual 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, read UKRI’s privacy notice.
Institutional Matched Funding
There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.
This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.
Publication of outcomes
EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at EPSRC Funding Applications Outcomes.
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. 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:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
- visiting researcher
- researcher co-lead (RcL)
Only list one individual as project lead.
Postdoctoral research assistants should be included on the grant as research and innovation associate.
A research technical professional can apply as a project lead or project co-lead, provided that they meet the UKRI individual eligibility criteria.
Please do not add industry project partners in this category, as these should be added in the ‘Project partners’ section instead.
UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Outline theme classification
Word limit: 30
Which EPSRC theme does your application fit into?
Please choose the primary EPSRC theme your application fits into by using the following theme categories:
- physical sciences
- information and communication technologies (ICT)
- artificial intelligence and robotics
- engineering
- resilience and security
- future communications
- mathematical sciences
- quantum technologies
- healthcare technologies
- sustainable manufacturing (manufacturing and the circular economy)
- clean energy (energy and decarbonisation)
- digital research infrastructure (central processing units or computing hardware)
If applicable, you can choose a secondary EPSRC theme, in which the research area will be enabled by the proposed infrastructure.
Please do not provide more than two EPSRC themes for this section.
Outline resubmission
Word limit: 10
Is your application an agreed resubmission?
In this section, please state one of the following depending on if your application is a resubmission agreed with EPSRC:
- this is a resubmission agreed with EPSRC. Please include the reference number of the previous application and the year it was assessed.
- this is a new application
Outline funding opportunity route
Word limit: 10
Which route of Strategic Infrastructure scheme are you applying to?
Please indicate one of the following options, depending on the route relevant to your application:
- route one: purchase and set-up of strategic infrastructure
- route two: resources to support existing strategic infrastructure
Application questions
Outline Purpose and Vision
Word limit: 330
What is the infrastructure, why is it needed, why should UKRI support it?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your proposed infrastructure will:
- enable research that is of high priority to EPSRC, including as appropriate meeting EPSRC’s strategic priorities and priorities within UKRI’s Strategy 2026 to 2031
- enable transformative research that cannot be achieved elsewhere
- enhance and add value to the existing regional or national research landscape without duplicating existing infrastructure, facilities, capabilities, or investments
- identify the potential local, regional and or national impacts, both direct and indirect, and who the beneficiaries might be
References may be included within this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Outline Approach, Accessibility, and Sustainability
Word limit: 550
What are your plans to manage and sustain the proposed infrastructure during and beyond the end of this funding?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
For approach, evidence how you will:
- effectively manage the infrastructure
- identify, prioritise, support and maximise users across the landscape
- ensure arrangements for intellectual property (IP), data and knowledge governance
For accessibility, evidence how you will:
- consider and demonstrate your pathway to ensuring and improving accessibility of this infrastructure and its user diversity during and beyond the duration of this grant through an accessibility plan
An accessibility plan background and a questions and answers document from the February 2024 community webinar are available under the ‘Additional information’ section.
For sustainability, evidence how your plan will include:
- an appropriate cost recovery model
- training and development of specialist technical staff
- steps to enhance the environmental and operational sustainability of the proposed infrastructure
- development or expansion of the user base after the initial period of funding
References may be included within this section.
You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Outline Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word limit: 330
Why are you and your host institution the right individual, team and place to procure and manage this infrastructure?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:
- relevant research experience and skills to develop and deliver the proposed research programme
- planned to identify and embed additional expertise where gaps in the team exist
The core leadership team should consist of the project lead and the project co-leads identified on the outline proposal. There will be scope to expand this team and include new collaborators on the full application, and you will be able to add further detail.
Showcase the range of relevant skills and experience, appropriate to your career stage, 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, including the appropriate leadership and management skills on your approach to develop others
For the host institution, provide evidence of:
- why it is the most appropriate place for the proposed infrastructure
- how it will use its existing capacity to best complement the proposed infrastructure
UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the Funding Service.
The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.
Outline costs
What are the expected costs of the proposed infrastructure?
Provide the approximate total values in GBP (£) including VAT for the expected directly incurred, directly allocated, indirect costs and exceptions. View the guidance on the costs you can apply for.
Outline Justification of resources
Word limit: 250
What will you need to deliver your proposed infrastructure and how is the cost justified?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
- make a clear distinction between cost of equipment items and the cost of any associated resources. State the anticipated funds that would be requested from EPSRC. Host institution and project partners including the nature and level of contributions if applicable
- describe the timescales associated with procurement of the equipment and when you anticipate you will spend any capital provision made
- ensure the costs are as accurate as possible at this stage. The costs in a full proposal must be within + or -10% of the outline proposal
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
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.
Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.
You will be asked about:
- which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to
- who you intend to collaborate with and how
- if your project requires an export control licence
Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.
