We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 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
- 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.
- 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.
Watch our research office webinars about the new Funding Service.
Deadline
EPSRC must receive your application by 20 December 2023 at 4.00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
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 If an application is withdrawn prior to peer review or office rejected due to substantive errors in the application, it cannot be resubmitted to the opportunity.
Personal data
Processing personal data
As part of UKRI, we 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
As part of UKRI, we will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at Grants on the Web.
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 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 infrastructure in terms of:
- context
- the challenges the infrastructure 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)
- researcher co-lead (RcL)
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
- visiting researcher
Only list one individual as project lead.
Postdoctoral research assistants
These should be included on the grant as research and innovation associate.
Research technical professionals
A research technical professional can be listed as a project lead or project co-lead (UK), provided that:
- their appointment is resourced from the central funds of their institution at the time of application
- their level of responsibilities and duties is appropriate to a person with substantial research experience
- their contract extends beyond the duration of the project
Please do not add industry project partners in this category, as these should be added in the ‘project partner’ section instead.
Find out more about UKRI’s new grant roles.
Purpose: strategic infrastructure funding route
Word limit: 750
Why is this infrastructure needed and why should EPSRC support it?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Use this section if you are applying for the strategic infrastructure funding route.
Enter ‘N/A’ in the text box and do not upload an attachment for this section if you are applying for the resources to support existing strategic infrastructure funding route, then move onto the next section.
Explain how the infrastructure sought will:
- meet national needs by establishing or maintaining a unique or world leading activity, or both
- enhance and complement the existing regional or national research capability
- evidence the strong demand and community need from a diverse and inclusive user base
- meet the strategic aims of the funding organisation
Describe alternative plans for how the research would be achieved should the equipment not be funded. The plans should reflect:
- host organisation strategies for this infrastructure
- institutional commitment to the infrastructure landscape
- how the infrastructure sought is different from what is already available in the wider research landscape
You should input your response to this section in the text box.
Within this section you also have the option to upload a single PDF ensuring it is no larger than 8MB, including support letters or emails from organisations that have shown a clear intention to use the infrastructure.
The PDF attachment should only include letters that are selective and adding significant support.
Applicants are advised to only include letters from a cross-section of key users, rather than from every user. These may represent different universities within or outside any regional alliance, or may indicate relevance to key collaborators within industrial sectors. Only one letter is permitted per organisation.
Each letter or email you provide should clearly explain the value, relevance and possible benefits of the work to users.
Please do not include letters of support from project partners in this section. We have a separate section for ‘Project partners: letters or emails of support’.
For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘<Purpose: letters of support from key users>’.
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.
Purpose: resources to support existing strategic infrastructure funding route
Word limit: 750
Why is this resource needed and why should EPSRC support it?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Use this section if you are applying for the resources to support existing strategic infrastructure funding route.
Enter ‘N/A’ in the text box and do not upload an attachment for this section if you are applying for the strategic infrastructure funding route, then move onto the next section.
Explain how the equipment sought will:
- meet national needs by establishing or maintaining a unique or world leading activity, or both
- enhance and complement the existing regional or national research capability
- evidence the strong demand and community need from a diverse and inclusive user base
- meet the strategic aims of the funding organisation
- result in significant efficiencies, increased usage or greater capacity, or both, compared to the current situation
Describe alternative plans for how the research would be achieved should the equipment not be funded. The plans should reflect:
- host organisation strategies for this equipment
- institutional commitment to the equipment landscape
You should input your response to this section in the text box.
Within this section you also have the option to upload a single PDF ensuring it is no larger than 8MB, including support letters or emails from organisations that have shown a clear intention to use the infrastructure.
The PDF attachment should only include letters that are selective and adding significant support.
Applicants are advised to only include letters from a cross-section of key users, rather than from every user. These may represent different universities within or outside any regional alliance, or may indicate relevance to key collaborators within industrial sectors. Only one letter is permitted per organisation.
Each letter or email you provide should clearly explain the value, relevance and possible benefits of the work to users.
Please do not include letters of support from project partners in this section. We have a separate section for ‘Project partners: letters or emails of support’.
For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘<Purpose: letters of support from key users>’.
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.
Vision
Word limit: 10
What research will be enabled by this infrastructure?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how the infrastructure sought will enable research that:
- is high quality, novel and transformative
- is timely, given current trends and context
- is relevant to identified stakeholders, including users
- will have a measurable impact beyond the immediate team, with an appropriate approach to achieving impact
Upload a PDF file of your Vision statement that is a maximum of 8MB and not more than three sides of A4, single spaced in paper in 11-point (Arial or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm. You may include images, graphs, tables.
For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘<Vision>’.
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.
In the text box for this section, enter ‘attachment supplied’.
Approach
Word limit: 10
What are your plans to manage the proposed infrastructure?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your approach includes:
- a credible plan for managing the infrastructure, including a work plan with Gantt chart, associated risks, milestones and deliverables
- a plan for prioritising access to and maximising usage of the infrastructure. This should include any application and assessment processes and an estimate for the balance of users from the host institution, academics from external institutions and industrial users
- a plan for data management and accessibility
Upload a PDF file of your Approach statement that is a maximum of 8MB and not more than three sides of A4, single spaced in paper in 11-point (Arial or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm. You may include images, graphs, tables.
The file should include a detailed management plan up to one page and a project work plan up to one page. The work plan should include milestones and timelines in the form of a Gantt chart or similar.
For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘<Approach>’.
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.
In the text box for this section, enter ‘attachment supplied’.
Sustainability
Word limit: 750
What are your plans for sustainability of the proposed infrastructure beyond the end of this funding?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your plans for sustainability include:
- an appropriate cost recovery model
- a plan for training and development of specialist technical staff
- a plan for the development or expansion of the user base after the initial period of funding and any “free-at-the point of access” period
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word limit: 1,500
Why are you 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:
- the relevant experience, appropriate to career stage, to deliver the proposed infrastructure
- the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed infrastructure, including 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 1,500 words; 1,000 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 infrastructure. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this infrastructure.
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 include 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.
Resources and cost justification
Word limit: 1,500
What will you need to procure and manage the proposed infrastructure and how much will it cost?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
In the text box, provide justifications of:
- the cost of the proposed infrastructure
- any resources (for example staff or maintenance costs) associated with the infrastructure
- any resources requested for activities to expand the user base, increase impact, for public engagement or to support responsible innovation
- the nature and level of contributions from your partner organisations if applicable
For each of these, demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing:
- are comprehensive, appropriate and justified
- represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise potential outcomes and impacts
Note that due to limited functionality on the new Funding Service, you can only request the infrastructure at either 80% or 100% FEC at this round of the application.
Within the ‘Resources and cost justification’ section we also expect you to:
Provide a short summary of quotations from at least three suppliers for all items of equipment costing more than £25,000. If there are only one or two suppliers for any piece of equipment, state this and explain why.
You can watch the video on managing resources and cost section in the Funding Service.
Your organisation’s support
Word limit: 1,000
Provide details of support from your host institution.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Provide a Statement of Support from your host institution detailing why the proposed infrastructure is needed. This should include details of any host institution contributions that will be provided to support the infrastructure and any support that might add value to the work.
The assessors will be looking for a strong statement of commitment from your host institution on:
- how its contributions are in line with the scale of the proposed infrastructure, including evidencing the strategic importance of this infrastructure to the institution
- why your host institution is the most appropriate place for the proposed infrastructure
- how your host institution will use its existing inventory to best complement the proposed infrastructure
- how your host institution will support the team to meet the proposal objectives
- the plans to support sustainability and management of the proposed infrastructure
Applicants are encouraged to discuss this section with both the Research Offices and Senior Management Team prior to submitting applications.
EPSRC recognises that in some instances, this information may be provided by the Research Office, the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) or equivalent, or a combination of both.
You must also include the following details:
- a significant person’s name and their position, from the TTO or Research Office, or both
- office address or web link
Upload details are provided within the service on the actual 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 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 limit 10
Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the table in the previous ‘contributions’ 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 the EPSRC’s guidance on project partners letters of support for further information Project partners letter of support
Save letters or emails of support from each partner 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 partners’.
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.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Do not provide letters of support from host and project co-leads’ research organisations.
Facilities
Word limit: 250
Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
If not, enter N/A into the text box, mark this section as complete and move on to the next section.
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, 36.7KB)
- 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.
References
Word limit: 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.
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word limit: 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
If you are collecting or using data, identify:
- any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data
- formal information standards with which your study will comply
Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) will be included in the Funding Service. These will ask about numbers, species/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
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
