EPSRC programme

Programme grants provide flexible funding to world-leading UK research groups addressing significant research challenges.

You must first go through a pre-outline and outline stage before being invited to make a full application.

We will award 80% of the full economic costs of the project, and your organisation(s) must agree to find the balance.

What we're looking for Programme grants provide flexible funding to world-leading research groups seeking to address significant research challenges across the EPSRC remit. We expect most successful proposals to be interdisciplinary and collaborative, but they can also address key challenges in a single discipline. They are not just large grants, they must be strategic in nature.

We support excellent research in:

• digital economy
• energy
• engineering
• healthcare technologies (see our dedicated healthcare technologies investigator-led funding opportunity) -information and communication technologies
• manufacturing the future
• mathematical sciences
• physical sciences
• quantum technologies
• global uncertainties (please speak to us first before considering submitting a pre-outline)
• living with environmental change (please speak to us first before considering submitting a pre-outline)
• research infrastructure (please speak to us first before considering submitting a pre-outline)

Find out more about our research areas and themes.

We are looking for proposals that:

• bring together the best researchers to tackle bigger, more open-ended challenges in a coherent and holistic way
• build partnerships between universities and promote cross-disciplinary working
• provide freedom to conduct feasibility studies, cross-fertilise ideas and build up new skill sets
• create greater visibility nationally and internationally among other researchers and industry
• help to bring in other researchers, attract more funding and promote UK science
• allow early career researchers in the team to be given greater independence and responsibility, and promote their career development
• offer grant holders flexibility to allocate resources between different projects and respond quickly to new challenges

Find out more about the scope.

Programme grants are open to UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, UKRI-approved independent research organisations, public sector research establishments and NHS bodies with research capacity.

Find out more about institutional eligibility.

You should be part of a team of world-leading researchers working together on a variety of activities focused on a strategic research theme.

You can apply if you are resident in the UK and meet at least one of these criteria:

• are employed at the submitting research organisation at lecturer level or equivalent
• hold a fixed-term contract that extends beyond the duration of the proposed research project, and the host research organisation is prepared to give you all the support normal for a permanent employee
• hold an EPSRC, Royal Society or Royal Academy of Engineering fellowship aimed at later career stages
• hold fellowships under other schemes (please contact EPSRC to check eligibility, which is considered on a case-by-case basis)

Holders of postdoctoral level fellowships are not eligible to apply for an EPSRC grant.

Clinical applicants must be employed or be on a fixed-term contract longer than the proposed project at an NHS trust, hospital, board, primary care trust or general practice

Find out more about individual eligibility.

We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder.

Projects invited to submit a full proposal are subject to our policy on repeatedly unsuccessful submissions.