UKRI Translation: EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships 2027
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (UK Research and Innovation) · United Kingdom
Funding to support ambitious, collaborative research programmes co-created and co-delivered by established business and academic partners. The projects must address important industry challenges through fundamental or applied research firmly grounded in engineering and physical sciences, with the aim of creating long-term prosperity for the UK. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
21 May 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Funding to support ambitious, collaborative research programmes co-created and co-delivered by established business and academic partners. The projects must address important industry challenges through fundamental or applied research firmly grounded in engineering and physical sciences, with the aim of creating long-term prosperity for the UK. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Engineering and physical sciences across a broad range of sectors and disciplines. The scheme can support areas including AI, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors, quantum technologies, life sciences and other areas within EPSRC's remit.
Match funding
The business cash contribution must at least match the amount funded by EPSRC. For a consortium, the combined cash contribution of all business partners must meet the requirement, while the primary business partner must make the largest individual contribution. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible applicants
UK research organisations eligible for EPSRC funding can act as the primary academic partner, including UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, UKRI-approved independent research organisations, public sector research establishments and NHS bodies with research capacity. A primary business partner is also required. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Minimum £500,000 requested from EPSRC (80% FEC)
Total fund available
£40,000,000 (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding intensity
EPSRC funds 80% of the full economic cost (FEC) of the application. The business partner or business consortium must provide a cash contribution at least equal to the EPSRC contribution. (UK Research and Innovation)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Fundamental or applied research addressing important industry challenges and firmly grounded within engineering and physical sciences. Projects should be co-created and co-delivered by business and academic partners and demonstrate a clear route to long-term economic, societal or sustainability benefits. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- EPSRC funding may cover staff costs, impact-related costs, travel and subsistence, skills and talent training, small equipment under £25,000 per item, other project equipment and equipment costing between £25,000 and £400,000 per item. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
- UKRI, public or government funding cannot be used as the business match-funding contribution. Contributions that do not meet the defined eligible cash contribution requirements count as in-kind rather than eligible cash match. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Highly competitive national funding programme supporting large-scale collaborative research partnerships.
Decision timeline
The full assessment process consists of an initial assessment followed by an interview stage for shortlisted applications. Applications are ranked into bands of similar quality. Following interviews, EPSRC may use a flexible and selective approach to create a balanced portfolio. There is no postal peer review stage. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
The full assessment process consists of an initial assessment followed by an interview stage for shortlisted applications. Applications are ranked into bands of similar quality. Following interviews, EPSRC may use a flexible and selective approach to create a balanced portfolio. There is no postal peer review stage. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Summary, Vision and Approach, Fit to Prosperity Partnerships Opportunity, Applicant and Team Capability to Deliver, Primary Academic Partner Research Organisation Statement, Project Partners, Facilities, Resources and Cost Justification, Partner Contributions to Costs, Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation, and Trusted Research and Innovation.
Application components
- Applications include project summary, vision and approach, fit with the Prosperity Partnerships opportunity, partnership information, team capability, resources and financial details, together with required supporting information such as partner statements and relevant project documentation. (UK Research and Innovation)
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
- Assessment considers the fit with the Prosperity Partnerships opportunity, research quality and ambition, strength of the established partnership, co-creation and co-delivery, applicant and team capability, resources and value for money, partner contributions, ethics and responsible research and innovation, and potential economic, societal and environmental impact. (UK Research and Innovation)
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if they fail eligibility checks, lack a sufficiently established industry partnership, do not demonstrate strategic alignment, or fail to meet the required business cash match.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
12 Mar 2026
Project duration
Up to 5 years. (UK Research and Innovation)
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Collaboration rules
- Projects must be co-created and co-delivered by an established academic partner and a primary business partner. The partnership must have been established for at least one year and demonstrate a track record of significant, regular collaborative research.
Consortium requirements
- Partnerships may include multiple collaborators including businesses, research organisations, public sector bodies, and international partners.
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-24.
International Collaboration Requirement
International partners may participate, but the required cash match funding must come from eligible business partners meeting the UKRI requirements.
Research Category
Fundamental and applied research within engineering and physical sciences, including multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research.
Research Organisation Funding
Host research organisations must provide appropriate infrastructure and support for the project.
Subcontractors
Project partners may contribute resources, expertise, or funding as collaborators.
Interview Stage
Yes, shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview with up to three representatives from the project team, including the primary academic and business partners.
Key Requirements
Projects must demonstrate a strong established academic-business partnership of at least one year, co-creation and co-delivery, strategic alignment with UK industrial priorities, strong research quality, and business cash contributions matching or exceeding the EPSRC funding requested.
Important Notes
The opportunity is closed. Projects must be based on a genuine established business-academic partnership of at least one year. The partnership must be co-created and co-delivered. Applications must request at least £500,000, EPSRC funds 80% FEC, and the business cash contribution must at least match the EPSRC contribution. Funding decisions were expected by December 2026, with grants expected to start in the first half of 2027. (UK Research and Innovation)
Next Opening Date
No confirmed next opening date has been announced for a new round. The current official EPSRC information does not provide a date for the next round. (UK Research and Innovation)
International Participation
The opportunity is centred on UK academic and business partners. Additional project partners may participate where they contribute appropriate resources, investment, skills and experience. The primary business partner must be UK-based or have significant research activity within the UK. (UK Research and Innovation)
Key Organisational Requirements
The primary academic and primary business partners must have an established partnership of at least one year before application. The relationship must demonstrate significant, regular collaborative research activity and a clear trajectory for future collaboration. The project must be co-created and co-delivered by the partners. (UK Research and Innovation)
Minimum Project Size
Applications must request at least £500,000. There is no separate smaller-scale application route. (UK Research and Innovation)
Maximum Project Size
No specific maximum award is stated for this 2027 opportunity. Applications can range from £500,000 upwards, with the level of funding expected to be appropriate to the depth and duration of the established partnership. (UK Research and Innovation)
Expected Decision Date
Funding decisions were expected after interviews by December 2026, with successful grants expected to start in the first half of 2027. (UK Research and Innovation)
Objectives
To support ambitious, collaborative research between business and academia and create long-term prosperity for the UK through job creation, revenue growth, innovation and solutions to broader societal and sustainability challenges. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible Business Contributions
Eligible business cash contributions can include internal investments and salaries of business employees, subject to the scheme's definitive list of eligible cash contributions. In-kind contributions such as data, software, management time and facilities access may also be provided but do not count towards the required minimum business cash contribution. (UK Research and Innovation)
Established Partnership Requirement
The partnership must have existed for at least one year before application and demonstrate significant, regular collaborative research projects developed and progressed jointly by the primary academic and business partners. The partnership should also show a clear trajectory for future collaborative work. (UK Research and Innovation)
Environmental & EDI Requirements
Applications are expected to consider ethics and responsible research and innovation. UKRI encourages applications from a diverse range of researchers and supports career breaks, caring responsibilities, flexible working and alternative working patterns. Disability and accessibility support is available during the application and assessment process. (UK Research and Innovation)
Generative AI
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, but applicants are advised to exercise caution. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
21 May 2026, 4:00 PM UK time (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 21 May 2026
- Funding amount
- Minimum £500,000 requested from EPSRC (80% FEC)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Engineering and physical sciences across a broad range of sectors and disciplines. The scheme can support areas including AI, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors, quantum technologies, life sciences and other areas within EPSRC's remit.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 12 Mar 2026