EPSRC Programme Grant Full Proposal
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) · United Kingdom
Programme grants provide flexible funding to world-leading research groups addressing significant major research challenges within the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council remit. The scheme supports interdisciplinary teams of internationally recognised researchers working together on one coherent long-term research theme. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
Rolling
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Programme grants provide flexible funding to world-leading research groups addressing significant major research challenges within the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council remit. The scheme supports interdisciplinary teams of internationally recognised researchers working together on one coherent long-term research theme. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Engineering and physical sciences research areas within the EPSRC remit.
Match funding
No institutional matched funding is required beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution. Direct and in-kind contributions from third-party project partners are encouraged. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible applicants
Researchers based at UK research organisations eligible for EPSRC funding. Applications are accepted only from applicants invited to submit a full proposal following a successful outline stage.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Not specified. Funding depends on the theme and budget agreed at the outline stage.
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
EPSRC funds 80% of the full economic cost of the project.
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Projects addressing large, open-ended research challenges that require coordinated research activity across disciplines and institutions. The programme should enable feasibility studies, idea development, cross-disciplinary working and the creation of new research capabilities.
Eligible expenses
- Research staff, project costs and equipment required to deliver the research programme. Individual equipment items costing between £25,000 and £400,000 may be requested.
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Not specified
Decision timeline
Not specified
Assessment process
Applications undergo independent peer review, followed by shortlisting and panel assessment. Shortlisted applicants have 14 days to respond to reviewer comments before the panel makes a funding recommendation. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Application sections include vision, approach and additionality, applicant and team capability, project partners, facilities, resources and cost justification, management strategy, organisational support, and ethics and responsible research and innovation considerations.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if eligibility requirements are not met, proposals fall outside the EPSRC remit, the application guidance is not followed, or the proposal does not demonstrate the required strategic value and programme-level approach.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
4 Mar 2025
Project duration
Up to 6 years
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Programme grants typically involve collaborative and interdisciplinary teams bringing together researchers with complementary expertise to address strategic research challenges.
Consortium requirements
- Teams of internationally recognised researchers working collaboratively on a strategic research theme are expected.
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-11.
International Collaboration Requirement
International project co-leads may participate only through the UKRI-RCN Money Follows Cooperation agreement or the UKRI-IIASA agreement. EPSRC does not otherwise accept international project co-leads. (UK Research and Innovation)
Research Category
Strategic, interdisciplinary and collaborative research programmes addressing major scientific and engineering challenges.
Research Organisation Funding
Funding is provided to eligible UK research organisations under the full economic cost model.
Subcontractors
Not specified
Interview Stage
Yes. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview with an expert panel.
Key Requirements
Applicants must be invited following a successful outline stage. Proposals must address major strategic research challenges and demonstrate strong research quality, leadership, collaboration, management, additionality and long-term strategic value.
Important Notes
Programme grants are designed as large-scale, long-term investments. They provide flexibility to allocate resources across programme activities, but funding must be provisionally assigned at the start of the project rather than held as an unassigned cash pot. Programme grants are expected to have effective management arrangements and an independent advisory board with at least 50% independent membership and an independent chair. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
Open with no fixed closing date. Invited applicants receive an individual deadline for their full proposal. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Funding amount
- Not specified. Funding depends on the theme and budget agreed at the outline stage.
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Engineering and physical sciences research areas within the EPSRC remit.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 20 Feb 2025