EPSRC New Investigator Award: Responsive Mode (November 2023)

Document research last revised 2026-08-12.

Grant Name

EPSRC new investigator award: Nov 2023: responsive mode

Last Updated

8 June 2026

Replacement Opportunity

This opportunity was replaced by an updated EPSRC New Investigator Award from 5 August 2026.

Career Break Eligibility

Applicants returning to research after a career break or other break from active research are welcomed.

Non-Standard Career Paths

Applicants who have taken a non-standard career path after their first degree are encouraged to apply.

International Collaboration Requirement

International applicants, project partners or collaborators may participate where relevant. Applicants must follow UKRI guidance on effective international collaboration and trusted research and innovation.

Critical Technologies

EPSRC particularly welcomed applications addressing AI, engineering biology, future telecommunications, semiconductors and quantum technologies, where the research generated new knowledge and addressed challenges associated with their advancement, development or deployment.

Research Category

Discovery-led research and early career investigator development

Project Lead Time

Applicants should typically request 10% to 20% of the project lead's time. Applicants seeking substantially more should consider other funding opportunities.

Equipment Funding

Equipment can be requested at up to £400,000 per item.

Equipment Quotes

Quotes do not need to be included with the application, but applicants should retain quotes for equipment costing more than £138,000, as UKRI may request them at post-panel stage before releasing funds.

Third-Party Contributions

Direct and in-kind contributions from third-party project partners are encouraged.

Research Organisation Funding

Host organisations must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities, including research facilities and staff training and development.

Subcontractors

Not specifically specified

Application System

Applications cannot be submitted through the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

Application Responsibility

The project lead is responsible for completing the application, with contributions expected from team members and project partners.

Submission Requirement

Only the lead research organisation can submit the application to UKRI. Applications cannot have more than one lead organisation.

Application Process

Project lead completes the application on the Funding Service, sends the completed application to the research office for checking, and the research office submits the checked application to UKRI.

Core Team

Applicants can list roles including Project Lead, Project Co-Lead (UK), Researcher Co-Lead, Specialist, Grant Manager, Professional Enabling Staff, Research and Innovation Associate, Technician and Visiting Researcher.

Project Lead Requirement

Only one individual can be listed as Project Lead.

Project Co-Lead Requirement

Project Co-Leads are generally not allowed because the purpose of the award is to establish the applicant's research independence. Exceptions may be considered where essential expertise is unavailable from the project lead, for example a clinician contributing to healthcare technology research.

Thematic Area Alignment

Applicants must select the EPSRC thematic area where the majority of the novelty in the research lies.

Thematic Areas

Artificial intelligence; digital security and resilience; energy and decarbonisation; engineering; healthcare technologies; information and communication technologies; manufacturing; mathematical sciences; physical sciences; quantum technologies.

Critical Technology Signpost

Applicants addressing critical technologies could add the relevant signpost number to their selected thematic area.

Vision and Approach

Maximum 6 sides of A4, single-spaced, in 11-point Arial or equivalent sans serif font, with margins of at least 2cm. An additional one-page A4 diagrammatic work plan may be included.

Vision and Approach File

Must be submitted as a single PDF no larger than 8MB.

Applicant and Team Capability

Maximum 1,500 words, including 1,000 words for R4RI modules and up to 500 words for optional Additions.

R4RI

Applicants must use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to demonstrate relevant skills and contributions.

References

Maximum 1,000 words. References must be provided in the dedicated references section.

Research Organisation Support

Maximum 500 words. Must explain the support offered by the host organisation, including career development, training, mentoring, practical/financial support and alignment with the organisation's wider strategy.

Applicant Fit to Opportunity

Maximum 400 words. Must confirm that the applicant meets the scheme's eligibility requirements.

Applicant Eligibility Confirmation

Applicants must confirm that they do not currently hold or have previously held a project that included more than six months PDRA time, a single research grant over £100,000 FEC, capital equipment costing more than £20,000, or a position where they directed the vision of a research group.

Project Partners

Project partners may be from industry, academia, the third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including the EU. Contributions may be direct/cash or indirect/in-kind.

Project Partner Letters

A single PDF containing letters/emails of support from named project partners must be provided. Maximum 8MB.

Project Partner Support

Letters should confirm the partner's commitment, explain the value/relevance/benefits of the work and describe the additional value they bring.

Facilities

Maximum 250 words. Applicants requiring facilities must follow the facility's normal access procedures and obtain prior agreement where required.

Sensitive Information

Applicants can indicate whether they need to provide confidential information to UKRI that should not be shared with assessors.

Resources and Cost Justification

Maximum 1,000 words. Applicants should provide high-level costs and justify significant resources rather than giving a detailed line-by-line breakdown.

Resources Requiring Justification

Project staff, significant fieldwork/collaboration travel, equipment costing more than £25,000, exceptional consumables, facilities/infrastructure and resources classified as Exceptions.

Ethics and RRI

Maximum 500 words. Applicants must identify relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations and explain how they will be managed.

Peer Review

At least three independent peer reviewers are invited to assess each application against the published assessment criteria.

Reviewer Nomination

Applicants cannot nominate reviewers through the UKRI Funding Service. UKRI selects expert reviewers.

Right to Reply

Applicants can respond to reviewers' comments if their application gains enough support.

Panel Assessment

Applications receiving sufficient reviewer support, together with reviewer comments and the applicant response, are sent to the appropriate prioritisation panel. The panel scores and ranks applications against the assessment criteria.

Responsive Mode Panels

Mathematical Sciences, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), Engineering, and Physical Sciences.

Panel Frequency

Panels are expected to run quarterly after September 2024.

Resubmission Rules

Uninvited resubmissions of projects previously submitted to UKRI or another funder are not accepted.

Application Amendment Rule

UKRI would not return applications for amendment. If an application was withdrawn before peer review or office-rejected because of substantive errors, a new application was required.

Important Notes

The opportunity specifically supports researchers establishing their independent research vision and research group. EPSRC encourages applicants to discuss available training and development opportunities with their institution because the host organisation's statement of support is important.

Closure Reason

The Nov 2023 opportunity closed on 4 August 2026 at 4:00pm UK time and was replaced by an updated EPSRC New Investigator Award from 5 August 2026.

Application deadline in source document

4 August 2026, 4:00pm UK time

Official source

Read the funding authority guidance