Materials Innovation Programme Coordination Network Pluses
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity status | Closed |
| Funders | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Funding type | Grant |
| Total fund | £5,700,000 |
| Maximum award | £1,380,000 |
| Publication date | 23 March 2026 |
| Opening date | 23 March 2026 9:00am UK time |
| Closing date | 27 May 2026 4:00pm UK time |
Last updated: 2 June 2026 - see all updates
Apply for funding to establish a materials focused Network Plus, that coordinates a community around one of four identified themes aligned to the National Materials Innovation Strategy (NMIS).
Each network will partner with Innovate UK Business Connect, to unite research and industrial stakeholders across the value chain, to accelerate translation and adoption of materials innovations, streamline access to UK capabilities and enhance integration between industry and academia.
You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding.
The full economic cost (FEC) of your project can be up to £1.38 million. EPSRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
Who can apply
This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.
This funding opportunity is for applicants who are ready and able to convene diverse, dynamic, and cross-sector groups, to foster dialogue, build inclusive and transformative collaborations, and address the challenges within the themes set out in the National Materials Innovation Strategy.
The application should demonstrate that the team combines appropriate expertise and experience to lead the Network Plus and achieve the stated outcomes, including aspects of community engagement, leadership and driving impact.
Who is not eligible to apply
You may be involved in no more than one application submitted to this funding opportunity.
International researchers
The UKRI-RCN Money Follows Cooperation Agreement does not apply to this funding opportunity. As such grants submitted to this funding opportunity cannot include a Norway-based project co-lead (international).
You should include all international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners.
Resubmissions
We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) or any other funder.
Find out more about EPSRC’s resubmissions policy.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.
We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:
- career breaks
- support for people with caring responsibilities
- flexible working
- alternative working patterns
UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.
What we're looking for
Demand management
Demand management is not being applied to this funding opportunity.
Aim
This funding forms part of the National Materials Innovation Programme (NMIP) announced as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy (GOV.UK).
From next generation metallics to breakthroughs in bio-materials, advanced materials are vital for the future of advanced manufacturing, while also underscoring energy, digital technologies, defence and life sciences industries. The NMIP aims to establish a nationally coordinated approach to the UK advanced materials sector, driving the translation and adoption of materials across key industrial sectors
Under this national approach to the materials sector, EPSRC will establish a series of Network Plus investments to support implementation of the National Materials Innovation and Industrial strategies. Each investment will be required to coordinate across industry, academia, and government to accelerate translation, scale‑up, and deployment of materials innovation. Drawing out and building upon the UK’s strength and expertise in materials research and development.
We will fund up to one Network Plus in each of four high-growth opportunity themes. Each investment must be tailored specifically to the challenges that exist within a particular theme and designed to ensure the UK can unlock maximal value from the existing landscape.
We are open to applications that will coordinate and add value to following themes:
- materials for energy solutions
- materials for future healthcare
- materials for advanced surface technologies
- materials for next generation electronics, telecommunications and sensors
Additional details identifying the scope under each theme can be found later in this section.
Objectives
Applications should demonstrate that they support cross-sector coordination and that activities are designed to improve integration and awareness of UK materials capabilities, address fragmentation between industry and academia and streamline access to UK capabilities. It is an expectation that funded networks work directly with Innovate UK Business Connect (IUKBC). Therefore, you should clearly identify plans to collaborate with IUKBC to support the achievement of their goals.
Any Network Plus supported under this funding opportunity should:
- establish new cross-sector communities or create new links between existing communities to address common challenges and provide a clear point of engagement across the materials ecosystem
- establish links between industrial stakeholders and research and innovation communities, lowering barriers for engagement of non-academic stakeholders across the value chain
- connect the UK innovation ecosystem in new ways to accelerate development and adoption of new technologies, and support de-risking translation of materials innovations into commercial markets
- enhance knowledge, evidence and advice on key opportunities within sectors or themes
- increase understanding of barriers to translation and investment, and identify opportunities to mitigate these
- where appropriate, support initial testing of new ideas, kick‑start new collaborations, facilitate impact and advance policy
- enable greater pre‑competitive collaboration within and across sectors
- grow capacity for and dissemination of, good practice, such as Responsible Research and Innovation, Trusted Research, and Ethics
We strongly advise any applicants planning to submit an application to this funding opportunity contact Innovate UK Business Connect (IUKBC) (email robert.quarshie@iukbc.org.uk or ajay.kapadia@iukbc.org.uk) to discuss how they can effectively support delivery of the Network Plus aims. Additional details of potential support IUKBC can offer is provided in the ‘Additional information’ section.
Scope of the themes
Your project must focus on coordinating the UK materials community under one of the following four themes. Each of these areas exist within a complex landscape, therefore, please note the additional details below regarding what we are looking for under each theme.
Materials for energy solutions
Given the breadth of this theme and the existing landscape, we are open to applications which enable coordination of the materials community to address the challenges associated with the following sub-themes (as detailed in the NMIS):
- materials for large-scale electrochemical energy generation and conversion
- materials for heat exchange, storage and heat recovery
- materials for energy harvesting
Note, it is expected that applications should aim to draw together communities across these sub-themes, and relevant sectors, rather than focus on them independently. While we recognise there will be individual sector drivers and challenges there is a requirement to understand synergies between sub-themes and drive towards collaborative cross-sector solutions.
While we expect any network funded to appropriately engage with wider materials for energy investments. We will not consider funding applications primarily focused on coordinating the community around the following sub-themes and their associated challenges:
- materials for battery energy storage
- materials for hydrogen transport, storage and use
- materials for advanced nuclear fuels and nuclear test capability
Materials for future healthcare
We are open to network plus applications addressing the challenges associated with the following sub-themes:
- biocompatible materials
- materials for bioelectronics
This funding opportunity is about coordinating the materials community. However, when applying to this area please note the importance of involving key stakeholders across relevant fields (for example, clinicians, regulators, academia and industry).
Materials for advanced surface technologies
We are open to network plus applications addressing the challenges associated with the following sub-themes:
- materials and modelling for surface engineering and tribology
- surface treatments and materials for demanding environments
Developments in this area have obvious application across a huge range of industrial sectors and applications under this theme should reflect that within the proposed collaborations.
There are a range of aspects identified within the NMIS that are required to enable an effective ecosystem in this area. These include, among others, understanding of surface degradation and corrosion, manufacturing techniques, testing and imaging capabilities and application of new digital technologies.
Materials for next generation electronics, telecommunications and sensors
We are open to network plus applications addressing the challenges associated with the following sub-themes. However, any application under this theme must draw together the communities across the sub-themes, and relevant sectors, rather than focus on them independently:
- materials for power electronics
- materials for quantum technologies
- materials for connectivity and telecommunications
Within this theme applications need to make clear how they will draw together the materials community, to ensure materials innovation drives forward underpinning technology and feeds into the delivery of the Industrial Strategy growth-driving sectors. Activities should describe how they complement the many existing investments in this space to drive convergence and facilitate impact.
Further information regarding the opportunity themes can be found in the National Materials Innovation Strategy.
Duration
The duration of these awards is up to three and a half years.
Projects will have a fixed start date and must start by October 2026.
Funding available
The FEC of your project can be up to £1.38 million. EPSRC will fund 80% of the FEC.
Flexible funding is available to support up to 50% of the total eligible project costs.
What we will fund
We will fund:
- innovative workstreams and activities
- community building and networking activities
- appropriate administrative support
- flexible funds
Project lead and co-leads’ salaries
These should be requested under the ‘directly allocated cost’ heading. The project lead and co-leads can request funds to cover their salary costs for the time spent on setting up and leading the Network Plus.
Directly incurred costs
Funding requested under the ‘directly incurred cost’ heading may include:
Travel and subsistence
Travel and subsistence enabling members of the Network Plus to meet to exchange ideas and expertise. This may include:
- travel within the UK
- visits by or to experts overseas
- travel and subsistence costs to support secondments
Where possible collaborators should meet their own travel costs.
Administrative support
A sufficient level of administrative support should be requested to ensure the coordination, management, and smooth running of the Network Plus.
You are expected to employ a dedicated grant manager as a core member of the team, with relevant experience and costed at the appropriate grade.
Reasonable costs for monitoring and dissemination of the network’s output can also be included.
Organisation of activities
Funding can be requested for costs involved in running activities such as:
- innovative workstreams and activities
- community building and networking activities
- debates
- expert working groups
- online discussion forums
- lectures
- seminars
- problem-solving workshops
- other activities
You are encouraged to think creatively about the range of activities that could support the delivery of the Network Plus goals. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your proposed activities with us ahead of submission.
Funds can be requested for research and innovation associate staff, consumables, travel and subsistence, and any other costs eligible under ‘directly incurred’ headings.
Flexible funds
Flexible funding can be requested to commission feasibility studies or similar small projects (but not to demonstrator phase or beyond technology readiness level (TRL) 4). These funds must be distributed externally to the grant.
Flexible funding is available to support up to 50% of the total eligible application costs. It is expected that any flexible funds requested are for activities designed to address specific challenges associated with the relevant NMIS theme.
Examples of potential interventions could include:
- pump-priming research and innovation activities
- support to improve knowledge exchange
- support for initial testing of new ideas and to kick-start new collaborations
- funds to facilitate wider impact and advance policy
Flexible funds can be allocated to researchers at any organisation currently eligible for EPSRC funding. You will need to think carefully about how any budget for external distribution will be commissioned, and how you will ensure processes for the allocation of funds are fair and transparent.
Please note that any activities commissioned by the Network Plus using the flexible funds will be restricted to EPSRC current research organisation eligibility but will not be bound by standard EPSRC investigator eligibility criterion. It is the project lead’s responsibility to ensure ongoing governance to ensure correct usage and accountability of the funds. We would expect some examples of the types of projects at the application stage, but the research challenges are expected to evolve throughout the Network Plus lifetime and should be co-created and collaborative in nature.
The sum awarded under the heading of ‘flexible funds’ can include both directly incurred and directly allocated expenditure. These funds must be reported on the final expenditure statement (FES) as awarded on the offer letter and a breakdown of the expenditure must be submitted along with the FES. If a breakdown of this expenditure is not received the final expenditure statements will be returned. Standard grant conditions apply to all other funds awarded on this grant.
What we will not fund
We will not fund applications that:
- do not clearly address one of the four opportunity themes listed
- are focused solely on the defence sector, but we will recognise dual use material innovations providing the primary focus is on civil applications
The Network Plus is not expected to carry out longer term research itself. Flexible funds may be used to commission small-scale research activities.
Equipment over £25,000 is not available through this funding opportunity. We will not be funding laboratory or research equipment for this funding opportunity. We will only support equipment to facilitate communication, networking and events. We welcome innovative and creative thought.
Supporting skills and talent
We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.
Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.
As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.
See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where you can find additional support.
How to apply
We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service, so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
To apply
Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page:
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.
- Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.
Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.
When including images, you must:
- provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit).
- insert each new image onto a new line.
- use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format.
Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:
- sentences or paragraphs of text
- tables
- excessive quantities of images
A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
- how applicants use the Funding Service
- how research offices use the Funding Service
- how reviewers use the Funding Service
References
References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:
- references are easily identifiable by the assessors
- references are formatted as appropriate to your research
- persistent identifiers are used where possible
General use of hyperlinks
Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI)
Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.
For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.
Institutional matched funding
There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.
This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.
Deadline
EPSRC must receive your application by 27 May 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.
If an application is withdrawn prior to peer review or office rejected due to substantive errors in the application, it cannot be resubmitted to the funding opportunity.
Personal data
Processing personal data
EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.
Sensitive information
If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email TFSchangeEPSRC@epsrc.ukri.org
Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].
Typical examples of confidential information include:
- individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
- declaration of interest
- additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
- conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection
- the application is an invited resubmission
For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.
Publication of outcomes
EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at EPSRC Funding Applications Outcomes
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
- opinion-formers
- policymakers
- the public
- the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
- context
- the challenge the project addresses
- aims and objectives
- potential applications and benefits
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead UK (PcL)
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
- visiting researcher
- researcher co-lead (RcL)
Only list one individual as project lead.
UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Application questions
Vision and Approach
Create a document that includes your responses to all criteria. The document should not be more than eight sides of A4, single spaced in paper in 11-point Arial (or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm. You may include images, graphs. You can have an additional page for a diagrammatic workplan.
For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘Vision and Approach’.
Save this document as a single PDF file, no bigger than 8MB. Unless specifically requested, please do not include any sensitive personal data within the attachment.
If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected.
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.
What are you hoping to achieve with and how will you deliver your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
For the Vision, explain how your proposed work:
- is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
- constitutes a network model, as opposed to other award types
- addresses the potential challenges encountered by the network or hub in this research area, including members who are from under-represented groups
- has the potential to advance current understanding, generates new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area
- is timely given current trends, context and needs
- impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment
- will embed EDI considerations into, and how these will guide your aims, as well as other activities such as stakeholder engagement, events and networking
Within the Vision section we also expect you to:
- describe the concept, context and coordination function your network will provide
- demonstrate the alignment of the application to the funding opportunity objectives
- clearly state the challenges you will address using the network
- explain how you will embed environmental sustainability within your activities
For the Approach, explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
- if applicable, uses a clearly written and transparent methodology
- if applicable, summarises the previous work and describes how this will be bu