Advanced materials: highlight notice
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) · United Kingdom
Funding opportunity encouraging research proposals focused on advanced materials solutions for critical minerals and in-situ or in-operando materials metrology and characterisation. The initiative aims to accelerate materials innovation that supports supply chain resilience, critical minerals strategies and improved materials performance understanding.
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Complexity
Medium
Time to apply
20-60 hours
Updated
9 Jun 2026
Funding opportunity encouraging research proposals focused on advanced materials solutions for critical minerals and in-situ or in-operando materials metrology and characterisation. The initiative aims to accelerate materials innovation that supports supply chain resilience, critical minerals strategies and improved materials performance understanding.
Eligibility
Applicant types
Research
Business size
Research organisation
Industries
Advanced materials research, materials science, critical minerals technologies and materials characterisation technologies.
Match funding
Not required
Requirements
Applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding and must meet the eligibility requirements of the EPSRC standard research grant scheme. The lead applicant must be affiliated with an eligible UK research organisation. Projects must focus on either advanced materials solutions that reduce reliance on critical minerals or research developing in-situ or in-operando...
Eligible applicants
Applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding and must meet the eligibility requirements of the EPSRC standard research grant scheme.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Amount needs verification
Total fund available
Not specified (no grant value limit)
Funding intensity
EPSRC funds 80% of the full economic cost of the project.
Payment type
Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
Eligible scope
Projects must focus on either advanced materials solutions that reduce reliance on critical minerals or research developing in-situ or in-operando materials metrology and characterisation techniques that enable real-time analysis of materials during processing or use.
Eligible expenses
- Costs eligible under the EPSRC standard research grant scheme.
Ineligible costs
- Individual equipment items over £25,000 unless approved as exceptions under EPSRC standard terms.
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Open (Rolling assessment)
Decision timeline
Not specified
Assessment process
Applications are assessed using the standard EPSRC research grant peer review process.
Application sections
- Applications must follow the EPSRC standard research grant application structure.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they fall outside the scope of the highlight notice or do not meet EPSRC research grant eligibility and application requirements.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
25 Aug 2025
Project duration
No fixed duration limit
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Collaboration with relevant research partners and end users is encouraged where appropriate to ensure research relevance and impact.
- Not specified
Consortium requirements
- Not specified
Additional guidance
[{"label":"Research Category","value":"Fundamental and applied research in materials science and engineering."},{"label":"Subcontractors","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Interview Stage","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Key Requirements","value":"Applications must align with the scope of the highlight notice and be submitted through the EPSRC standard research grant opportunity. Applicants must include the required prefix in the application title to indicate alignment with the highlight notice theme."},{"label":"Renewal Rules","value":"Not specified"},{"label":"Important Notes","value":"There is currently no fixed closing date for this highlight notice. EPSRC will monitor the volume of submissions and will provide at least two months’ notice before closing the opportunity if required."}]
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- Amount needs verification
- Funding band
- Verification Required
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Grant (typically 80% FEC in arrears)
- Audience
- Research Innovation
- Industry
- Advanced materials research, materials science, critical minerals technologies and materials characterisation technologies.
- Last updated
- 9 Jun 2026
- Published
- 21 Aug 2025