Funding opportunity: Japan-UK Joint call for collaborations in Advanced Connectivity Technologies
Opportunity status: Open Funders: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Co-funders: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) Funding type: Grant Total fund: £3,365,000 Maximum award: £1,121,600 Publication date: 10 July 2026 Opening date: 10 July 2026 9:00am UK time Closing date: 6 October 2026 4:00pm UK time
Start application
Apply for funding to form world‑leading partnerships with collaborators in Japan in the field of Advanced Connectivity Technologies.
Your application must involve researchers from both Japan and UK.
UK applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding. Japanese applicants must be eligible for NICT funding.
You may request up to £897,000 (80% FEC) for the UK component from EPSRC and up to ¥200 million for Japan components from NICT.
The duration of the award can be up to a maximum of three years.
Who can apply
- Must be eligible for EPSRC (UK) or NICT (Japan) funding.
- Must have a project partner from Japan.
- UK applicants: standard EPSRC eligibility; Japanese applicants: NICT eligibility.
- Lead applicant limited to one lead role; industry partners can provide in‑kind support but not receive funding.
- International researchers: restrictions apply; resubmission not allowed; equality, diversity and inclusion provisions.
What we're looking for
- Aim: support internationally competitive collaborative research projects between Japan and UK in Advanced Connectivity Technologies.
- Funding themes: AI integration in digital networks, non‑terrestrial networks, advanced optics/photonics.
- Scope areas:
- Integration of AI in digital networks – AI‑driven communication networks, data‑centric AI‑native networks, edge tech, standards, security, etc.
- Non‑terrestrial networks – satellite, drone, HAPS platforms, hardware, quantum tech, AI, testbeds, security, interoperability, IoT scalability.
- Advanced optics/photonics – next‑gen optical/wireless networks, scalable resilient infrastructure, ultrawideband fibre, quantum‑enabled links, APN concepts.
- Expected outcomes: accelerate progress, build research ecosystems, drive economic growth, improve lives, strengthen resilience.
- Duration: grants start 1 April 2027, end 31 March 2030; up to three years.
- Funding available: EPSRC £3.37 million (100% FEC), NICT ¥600 million; approx. three projects.
- Funding limits per application: UK up to £897,000 (80% FEC) from EPSRC; Japan up to ¥200 million from NICT.
- What we will fund (UK applicants): salary contributions, research staff, consumables, travel, data sharing, estates, indirect costs.
- What we will not fund (UK applicants): equipment ≥£25k per item; equipment <£10k may be other costs; IP guidance; no PhD studentships from EPSRC.
- Supporting skills: Concordat, Technician Commitment.
- Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) requirements.
- How to apply: expression of interest encouraged; steps: Japan e‑Rad prep, UK Funding Service submission, joint proposal exchange; details on account registration, document upload, image guidelines, etc.
- Deadlines: EoI 8 Sep 2026 16:00 BST; EPSRC deadline 6 Oct 2026 16:00 UK; NICT deadline 7 Oct 2026 12:00 JST.
- Personal data handling, privacy notices, sensitive information email, institutional matched funding, publication of outcomes.
- Summary guidance: describe context, challenge, aims, objectives (max 550 words).