Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP) 2026
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) · United Kingdom
Grant funding opportunity supporting large or complex research projects of significant scientific priority within STFC programme areas. Applications are reviewed through Projects Peer Review Panel rounds and only invited applicants who have passed the Statement of Interest stage can submit full proposals. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
27 Aug 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Grant funding opportunity supporting large or complex research projects of significant scientific priority within STFC programme areas. Applications are reviewed through Projects Peer Review Panel rounds and only invited applicants who have passed the Statement of Interest stage can submit full proposals. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Particle physics, nuclear physics, astronomy, particle astrophysics, accelerator physics and computing for the PPAN programme
Match funding
No institutional matched funding required beyond the remaining 20% full economic cost contribution.
Eligible applicants
Researchers based at UK research organisations eligible for STFC funding who have been invited to apply following a successful Statement of Interest stage.
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
Not specified. Project funding is based on the budget envelope agreed with the STFC programme manager.
Total fund available
Not specified
Funding intensity
STFC funds 80% of the full economic cost of the project.
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Projects may include participation in major experiments or missions, development of instruments, detectors and accelerator technologies, upgrades to existing facilities, high-performance computing development, operation of existing facilities, and new e-science initiatives including modelling and data management.
Eligible expenses
- Eligible costs aligned with STFC research grant funding, including project staff, infrastructure, equipment and operational research costs as agreed with the programme manager.
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service
Competitiveness
Not specified. Applications are assessed on their own merit rather than ranked against other proposals within the panel process. (UK Research and Innovation)
Decision timeline
Not specified
Assessment process
Applications are assessed through the STFC Projects Peer Review Panel process based on scientific excellence, strategic importance and feasibility of delivery. The process includes Statement of Interest review, expert review, project management and delivery review, and PPRP assessment. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Summary, vision and approach, project management plan, applicant and team capability to deliver, ethics and responsible research and innovation, resources and cost justification, project partners, data management and sharing, facilities and trusted research considerations.
Application components
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if eligibility requirements are not met or if proposals fail to follow application guidance or fall outside programme scope.
Timeline and partners
Opening date
8 Sept 2025
Project duration
Duration as required to deliver the project
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
Not specified
Collaboration rules
- Collaborative projects and partnerships are allowed where they contribute to delivering complex scientific programmes.
Consortium requirements
- Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-10.
International Collaboration Requirement
Not specified
Research Category
Fundamental scientific research and large-scale research infrastructure development
Research Organisation Funding
Funding is provided to eligible UK research organisations under the full economic cost model.
Subcontractors
Not specified
Interview Stage
Not specified
Key Requirements
Applicants must be invited following a successful Statement of Interest stage and projects must align with STFC programme priorities and demonstrate significant scientific priority.
Important Notes
Only invited applicants can submit a full proposal. STFC requires the full economic cost to be agreed with the relevant programme area and programme manager before funding is confirmed.
Application deadline in source document
27 August 2026, 4:00pm UK time
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 27 Aug 2026
- Funding amount
- Not specified. Project funding is based on the budget envelope agreed with the STFC programme manager.
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Grant
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Particle physics, nuclear physics, astronomy, particle astrophysics, accelerator physics and computing for the PPAN programme
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 16 Jul 2025