EPSRC Strategic Infrastructure: Outline Stage

Document research last revised 2026-08-12.

Grant Name

Strategic Infrastructure Outlines

Current Status Update

The opportunity closed at 4:00pm on 18 June 2026 to allow EPSRC to implement necessary changes. UKRI expects the opportunity to reopen by September 2026.

Opportunity Type

Strategic Research Infrastructure Funding

Primary Research Area

Engineering and physical sciences research within the EPSRC remit

Minimum Award

£400,000 Full Economic Cost (FEC)

Previous Closing Date

18 June 2026, 4:00pm UK time

Expected Reopening

By September 2026, according to the latest UKRI update.

Last Updated

2 June 2026

Route 1 Duration

No fixed maximum duration is stated for the strategic infrastructure purchase/set-up route. The duration should be appropriate to procurement, delivery, installation and set-up.

Route 2 Duration

Maximum 2 years for resources supporting existing strategic infrastructure.

Research Technical Professionals

Research technical professionals may apply as project lead or project co-lead where their appointment is resourced from their institution's central funds, their responsibilities are appropriate for someone with substantial research experience, and their contract extends beyond the project duration.

International Collaboration Requirement

International collaboration is permitted through project partners, but international researchers cannot be project co-leads under this opportunity where the relevant international agreements do not apply.

International Co-Lead Eligibility

Grants cannot include an IIASA-based or Norway-based international project co-lead because the UKRI-RCN Money Follows Cooperation Agreement and UKRI-IIASA agreement do not apply to this opportunity.

Research Category

Research infrastructure, capital equipment, digital infrastructure and resources supporting strategic infrastructure

Funding Routes

Route 1: Purchase and set-up of strategic infrastructure. Route 2: Resources to support existing strategic infrastructure.

Route 1 Eligibility

Funding can support strategic infrastructure including capital equipment, digital infrastructure, cutting-edge computing hardware and associated non-capital costs required to support the infrastructure.

Route 2 Eligibility

Only applicants invited by the relevant EPSRC theme lead can apply. The route supports existing infrastructure that has already been procured, delivered and installed, with the aim of increasing utilisation, sharing and sustainability.

Strategic Infrastructure Requirement

The infrastructure should be a strategic necessity for the host institution rather than simply a desirable or "nice to have" purchase.

Infrastructure Threshold

The full economic cost of the infrastructure must be at least £400,000 including VAT. The threshold can be met by a single item or several items clearly intended to be combined into a single asset. It cannot be met by simply adding together unrelated standalone equipment items.

Equipment Below £400,000

Equipment below £400,000 can be requested where it is essential to the running of the larger infrastructure.

Equipment Classification

Items costing under £25,000 are not considered equipment by UKRI and should be entered under the DI – other fund heading. Equipment costing £25,000 or more should be entered under Exceptions – Equipment.

Eligible Capital Costs

Capital infrastructure, including capital equipment, digital infrastructure, central processing units and computing hardware, where they meet the strategic infrastructure requirements.

Eligible Non-Capital Costs

Where clearly required to support the infrastructure, eligible non-capital costs can include project lead/co-lead time for management or promotion, research technical professional time, training, public engagement, entrepreneurship, media, engagement activities, partnership development, proof of concept/prototype work, marketing/web content and data management.

Eligible Route 2 Costs

Non-capital resources that improve use of existing infrastructure, including pump-priming funds, training or research services, additional technician or staff time, improved booking software, promotion of infrastructure capabilities and eligible impact-related activities.

Route 2 Ineligible Costs

Route 2 does not fund capital costs, long-term research projects, replacement of existing support, maintenance, service contracts or existing capital costs.

Postdoctoral Researcher Costs

Long-term postdoctoral researcher effort is not expected under the existing strategic infrastructure route. Short-term seed projects for new users may be eligible where they were proposed at outline stage.

Equipment Quotes

Equipment quotations are not required at outline stage but will be required at the full application stage. Quotes must include VAT.

Funding for Capital Infrastructure

Up to 100% FEC can be requested for the infrastructure itself.

Funding for Non-Capital Costs

Eligible non-capital costs are funded at 80% FEC.

Research Organisation Funding

The host institution is responsible for the standard FEC contribution for costs funded at 80% FEC and must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure required for the award-specific activities.

Project Partner Contributions

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

Sustainability Requirement

Applications must explain how the infrastructure will be sustained beyond the funding period, including cost recovery, technical skills development, environmental sustainability and future user-base development.

Accessibility Requirement

Applicants must demonstrate how they will ensure and improve accessibility of the infrastructure and promote user diversity during and beyond the grant.

National/Regional Capability

Applications should demonstrate how the infrastructure complements existing regional or national research capability and avoids unnecessary duplication.

User Demand

Applicants should demonstrate strong demand from the intended user base.

Je-S Eligibility

Applications cannot be submitted through Je-S.

Application Process

Applicants complete the application through the UKRI Funding Service, check it in read-only format, send it to their research office for checking, and the research office submits the final application to UKRI.

Institutional Submission

Only the lead research organisation can submit the application to UKRI.

Summary Word Limit

250 words

Theme Classification

Applicants select the primary EPSRC theme and, where appropriate, one secondary theme. No more than two themes should be selected.

EPSRC Themes

Physical sciences; information and communication technologies (ICT); engineering; digital economy; mathematical sciences; quantum technologies; healthcare technologies; manufacturing and circular economy; energy and decarbonisation; digital research infrastructure.

Outline Purpose and Vision Word Limit

330 words

Outline Approach, Accessibility and Sustainability Word Limit

550 words

Applicant and Host Institution Capability Word Limit

300 words

Outline Justification of Resources Word Limit

250 words

Outline Cost Requirement

Applicants must provide approximate total values in GBP, including VAT, for expected directly incurred, directly allocated, indirect and exception costs.

Full Proposal Cost Tolerance

Costs in the full proposal must be within ±10% of the outline proposal.

Application References

Applications should be self-contained. Hyperlinks should only be used for direct reference information and must not be used to extend the application.

Resubmission Rules

Uninvited resubmissions are not accepted. Resubmissions must be agreed with EPSRC.

Institutional Application Limit

EPSRC had a limit of six applications per institution for the period 18 June 2025 to 17 June 2026. This included relevant National Research Facility and Infrastructure Fund strategic infrastructure outlines. The stated period has now ended, and the current page does not provide a new limit for the expected September 2026 reopening.

Strategic Prioritisation

EPSRC expects institutions to prioritise applications that are of the highest strategic importance. Applications should reflect genuine institutional priorities and should not be treated as a target simply to use an institutional allocation.

Outline Assessment

An EPSRC internal staff panel reviews and scores the outline against the outline assessment criteria and recommends proposals for invitation to submit a full proposal.

Full Proposal Peer Review

Experts independently review invited full applications against the specified assessment criteria. Applicants cannot nominate reviewers through the Funding Service.

Shortlisting

EPSRC reviews reviewer comments and scores. Shortlisted applications proceed to a panel. Shortlisted applicants have 14 days to respond to reviewers' comments.

Interview Stage

Yes. Shortlisted Route 1 strategic infrastructure applications are assessed by an expert interview panel. Route 2 proposals may be invited to an interview panel or prioritisation panel depending on the proposal's size and scope.

Final Funding Decision

The EPSRC research infrastructure theme makes the final funding decision based on the interview panel recommendation and available budget.

Outline Assessment Focus

The outline should demonstrate the strategic case, clarity and coherence against the criteria. The internal outline panel does not assess technical feasibility.

Feedback

At outline stage, feedback is provided to successful applicants invited to submit full proposals and applicants invited to resubmit by the outline panel. At full proposal stage, feedback is provided to all applicants with the outcome.

Key Requirements

Infrastructure must have strong strategic importance, be aligned with the host institution's strategy and EPSRC remit, demonstrate demand and appropriate use, and provide a clear case for the requested cost.

Strategic Importance

EPSRC expects the infrastructure to be a strategic necessity for the institution's long-term strategy rather than simply desirable equipment.

International Restrictions

IIASA and Norway-based project co-leads cannot be included. International collaborators should be included as project partners.

Trusted Research Requirement

Applicants may need to demonstrate compliance with UKRI's Trusted Research and Innovation principles, including identifying relevant risks and proportionate controls for international collaboration.

Application Changes

Once submitted, an application cannot be changed and will not be returned for amendment. Applications that are withdrawn before peer review or office-rejected due to substantive errors cannot be resubmitted to the opportunity.

Publication of Outcomes

EPSRC publishes funding outcomes through its designated Tableau page. Successful applications may also have some personal information published through UKRI Gateway to Research.

Contact

researchinfrastructure@epsrc.ukri.org

Important Notes

The opportunity is currently closed and EPSRC expects to reopen it by September 2026. Applicants should therefore not treat the old "open with no closing date" wording as current. The funding has two distinct routes, and Route 2 is invitation-only.

Official Source

UKRI – Strategic infrastructure outlines

Official source

Read the funding authority guidance