Funding opportunity: EPSRC Materials Innovation Partnerships

| Opportunity status | Closed | | Funders | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | | Funding type | Grant | | Total fund | £7,500,000 | | Minimum award | £250,000 | | Publication date | 4 March 2026 | | Opening date | 3 March 2026 9:00am UK time | | Closing date | 14 May 2026 4:00pm UK time |

Last updated: 2 June 2026 - see all updates

Apply for funding to support ambitious, collaborative research programmes. Materials Innovation Partnership projects must:

• be co-created and co-delivered by business and academic partners
• focus on one or more of the six high-growth opportunity themes from the National Materials Innovation Strategy
• aim to create long-term prosperity for the UK

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will fund 80% of the full economic cost (FEC). The business cash contribution must at least match the amount funded by EPSRC.

Who can apply

This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible. The below section provides more detail about what role your organisation may take in an application.

Primary academic partner

Research organisations can act as the ‘primary academic partner’ if they are eligible to receive EPSRC funding. This includes:

• UK higher education institutions
• research council institutes
• UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-approved independent research organisations
• public sector research establishments
• NHS bodies with research capacity

For full details about eligibility, visit EPSRC’s eligibility page. The primary academic partner will be required to create and submit the application on the UKRI Funding Service, but all partners are expected to contribute to the application in the spirit of the partnership before it is added to the system.

Primary business partner

Applications must be co-created with a primary business partner that has an established relationship with the lead academic partner. The business partner (or partners) must make a cash contribution to the project which matches or exceeds the amount requested from EPSRC. Businesses can act as the ‘primary business partner’ if they meet at least one of the following requirements:

• be a UK-based business of any size
• be a business of any size with a UK presence and significant UK-based research activity
• be a public sector research establishment (PSRE), noting that your financial contribution to the match funding requirement must not be derived from public funds (appropriate confirmation and assurance of this will be required)
• be the lead of a consortium of organisations which collectively contributes the match funding, the members of which meet any of the above requirements

Collaborations may include international partners, noting that the match funding must be contributed by a partner or consortium meeting the above definitions. All partners are expected to be involved in the creation of your application.

The individual acting as the primary academic partner and the individual acting as the primary business partner may only be named in these joint roles on one application at a time.

Established partnership

This funding opportunity will support collaborative partnerships between the primary partner organisations which have been established for at least one year. A partnership is a working relationship between the two individuals who will lead the project in both organisations, as well as a broader relationship between the two organisations. An established partnership in this context is one which meets all the following requirements:

• has individual relationships at the core of the partnership
• can be recognised by both primary partner organisations
• can demonstrate a track record of at least one year (prior to the point of application) showing significant, regular collaborative research projects which the primary academic and business partners have developed and progressed together
• can demonstrate a clear trajectory for future collaborative work

These partnerships may involve the signing of a memorandum of understanding or collaboration agreement.

Individual eligibility

EPSRC standard eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit EPSRC’s eligibility page. UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the Funding Service. For full details, visit Roles in funding applications.

International researchers

As EPSRC is a lead funder for this opportunity, international researchers can only apply as ‘project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))’ as part of an applications making use of the UKRI-RCN Money Follows Cooperation agreement or the UKRI-IIASA agreement. You should include all other 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 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

Aim

This funding forms part of the National Materials Innovation Programme, announced, as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

Objectives

Through this funding opportunity, EPSRC aims to support a portfolio of at least four ambitious, collaborative, fundamental research programmes, spanning the breadth of the six high-growth opportunity themes identified in the National Materials Innovation Strategy (NMIS). These projects must be:

• co-created and co-delivered by business and academic partners
• add value under at least one of the six high-growth opportunity themes

By co-investing in basic and applied research projects alongside business, we aim to create long-term prosperity for the UK, for example by bringing jobs and revenue growth, or addressing broader societal and sustainability issues. Projects should aim to:

• accelerate advanced materials research and development, focusing on real-world challenges
• speed up the translation of materials innovation towards industrial application
• develop novel or enhanced materials solutions to meet business needs

Project scope

Your project must focus on one of the six high-growth opportunity themes from the NMIS. Below is the scope of each theme.

Materials for energy solutions

We are seeking materials focused innovation projects in the areas of:

• materials for battery energy storage
• materials for large-scale electrochemical energy generation and conversion
• materials for hydrogen transport, storage & use
• materials for heat exchange, storage & heat recovery
• materials for energy harvesting
• materials for advanced nuclear fuels and nuclear test capability

Materials for future healthcare

We are seeking materials focused innovation projects in the areas of:

• biocompatible materials
• materials for bioelectronics

Materials for structural innovations

We are seeking materials focused innovation projects in the areas of:

• materials for low-carbon construction
• materials for sustainable structural systems (composites)
• metallic materials
• ceramic materials

Materials for advanced surface technologies

We are seeking materials focused innovation projects in the areas of:

• materials and modelling for surface engineering & tribology
• surface treatments and materials for demanding environments

Materials for next generation electronics, telecommunications and sensors

We are seeking materials focused innovation projects in the areas of:

• materials for power electronics
• materials for quantum technologies
• materials for connectivity and telecommunications

Materials for consumer products, packaging and specialist polymers

We are seeking materials focused innovation projects in the areas of:

• materials for sustainable packaging
• sustainable elastomers

Further information about the scope within each high-growth opportunity theme can be found in the National Materials Innovation Strategy.

Duration

The duration of this award is up to three and a half years, with a fixed start date of 1 October 2026.

Funding available

EPSRC have up to £7.5 million to invest in a minimum of four projects. The FEC of your project must be at least £312,500. EPSRC will fund £250,000 (80% of the FEC). We particularly encourage involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this funding opportunity. Involvement could be as a sole primary business, or as part of a consortium. The business cash contribution must match or exceed the amount funded by EPSRC. You must demonstrate a minimum one year of an established partnership collaboration in your application. Less established partnerships are expected to apply for smaller grants, and larger grant applications will need to demonstrate stronger evidence of an established partnership. The assessment panel will judge this as part of the assessment process.

What we will fund

Requested funds from EPSRC may include:

• staff costs
• costs related to impact
• travel and subsistence
• small items of equipment under £25,000 per item and other items required to carry out the project
• equipment between £25,000 and £400,000 per item

Quotes for equipment do not need to be included in your application. However, please retain quotes for equipment costing more than £138,000 as we may ask for these at post-panel stage before releasing funds. For details of how to include equipment in your application see Equipment on research grants.

What we will not fund

We will not fund projects that:

• do not clearly align to one or more of the core themes listed
• are focused on fundamental chemical or materials synthesis
• are focused solely on the defence sector, but we will recognise dual use material innovations providing the primary focus is on civil applications
• do not exhibit clear and realistic sector relevance and opportunities for application

Funding example

If the FEC of the project is £625,000, then we would contribute 80% of this figure (£500,000). The match contribution from the industry partners would then need to be at least £500,000 cash and the total value (FEC and business cash contribution combined) would be at least £1,125,000. The primary business partner, or the consortium led by the primary business partner, must collectively contribute match funding to the project, in cash, equal to or exceeding the EPSRC contribution. In the case of a consortium, the greatest single contribution should come from the primary business partner. See the definitive list of eligible cash contributions for our definition of what can be counted towards the cash contribution. Read Partner contributions to costs table and guidance (PDF, 527KB) to see more funding scenarios. Projects must be at least 50% within the EPSRC remit. This funding opportunity focuses on fundamental research, targeting projects at low technology readiness levels (1 to 3). Cross-disciplinary and multidisciplinary projects are welcomed. We may seek funding from other UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) councils, if there is a substantial element of the proposed work which lies outside our remit. It is important to manage conflicts of interest proactively, whether they are actual conflicts or perceived conflicts. You should set out how you will manage any potential conflicts of interest in your application. You must declare in your application if any member of your project leadership team has paid positions within both the business and research organisation partnering on the same project. If this is the case, you must also clarify the separation of duties.

Match contribution details

The business and academic partners should consider the following:

• business cash contribution will at least match the amount funded by EPSRC (see the ‘Definitive list of eligible cash contributions’ section). Any contribution not defined under the definitive list will count as ‘in-kind’
• no UKRI, public or government funding will be used as match funding

Match contribution: single primary business partner:

If there is a single primary business partner named in the application, then they must provide a cash contribution which at least matches the EPSRC funding. Our funding is at 80% of FEC of the application. In-kind contributions will not count towards this cash component but are encouraged. See examples in the EPSRC Materials Innovation Partnerships Partner contributions to costs table and guidance (PDF, 527KB).

Match contribution: consortium led by a primary business partner

The combined cash contributions from all the business partners must at least match the EPSRC funding requested. The value of the primary business partner’s cash contribution must be the greatest among business partners on this application.

Other contributions

In-kind contributions, such as data, software, management time, or facilities access, are welcome and can help show business commitment to the success of the project. However, they will not count towards the industry matching contributions. Any academic partner’s cash contribution, including the primary academic partner, does not contribute to the matching contribution requirements. There is no expectation for the academic partners to contribute significantly to the project, and it won’t affect the assessment of your application. We do not mandate a specific audit format for the business contributions to a project. However, a record must be provided if requested that can demonstrate a continuous auditable cash transfer, or staff time-record by the business partner. The business cash contribution can be used in conjunction with our funds for the gross academic staff salaries such as researchers, postdoctoral research associates, technicians, and the project manager (that is National Insurance, taxes including indirect costs such as pension). Please note that the salary of the person who is the primary business partner must be paid by the business, as it is part of the business support, and is ineligible as cash or in-kind contributions.

Definitive list of eligible cash contributions

Please note that the names of grant roles have changed.

Researchers’ salaries (including project co-lead, researcher co-lead)

This should be all or part of the pro rata, gross salary cost associated with researchers employed by universities or businesses (including co-leads, and postgraduate research assistants). The expectation is that researchers will devote a significant and appropriate amount of their time on the Materials Innovation Partnership to deliver the project. This will be looked at by panel members as part of the assessment to ensure that the appropriate resources are being dedicated to the project.

Research and innovation associates’ salary (including postdoctoral research associates)

This should be all, or part of, the gross salary cost associated with ‘research and innovation associates’ employed by research organisations to work exclusively on the Materials Innovation Partnership. ‘Research and innovation associates’ can also be employed directly by the businesses in the partnership and claim the gross salary as a cash contribution if they are exclusively committed to working on the Materials Innovation Partnership.

Professional enabling staff salary (including grant manager)

The pro rata gross salary cost of professional enabling staff is an eligible cash contribution. The expectation is that they will devote a significant and appropriate amount of their time on the Materials Innovation Partnership required for the project.

Specialists’ and technicians’ salary

The pro rata gross salary costs of specialists are an eligible cash contribution. A specialist is an individual who brings specialist skills and intellectual input to the project. For example, data scientist, graphic designer, high-level or specialist technician or librarian. They must be employed by the primary business partner, or one of the collaborating partners. The expectation is they will devote a significant and appropriate amount of their time on the Materials Innovation Partnership, to enable delivery of the project.

Software licences

This should be new software licences needed for the project and their maintenance cost for the duration of the grant. Software licences or intellectual property owned by the business, which are already accessible by the partners, will apply at marginal cost, not at market rate.

New equipment

This should be genuine new equipment purchases and should be dedicated to the objectives of the Materials Innovation Partnership, and their utilisation should be critical to deliver the activity. The access does not have to be restricted to the project members, but we expect that the equipment will be available to project members as required for the project. All equipment should be appropriately justified.

Equipment produced by the business

This should be equipment produced by the business, but only at the cost of manufacture, not market rate.

Equipment-specific materials

This should be specific consumable materials which are required for certain equipment, for example material used in 3D printing.

Access to equipment and facilities

This should be access to specific equipment and facilities critical to achieve the outcomes of the project, including access to labs and use of lab equipment. If the facility is based at the academic or primary business partner, the contribution will be at the internal rate, not market rate.

Facilities refurbishment

Facilities refurbishment can be an eligible research organisation cash contribution, if the upgrade will increase the capability of the facilities. This contribution must be justified in addition to any estate costs already factored in.

Business cash donation

This is a business cash donation which will be provided to the partner universities, for the universities to manage in line with the project objectives.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

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.

Project roles

This funding opportunity has a ‘primary business partner’ and a ‘primary academic partner’. The primary academic partner should be added on the Funding Service as the named project lead. Under the ‘Applicant and team capability section’, indicate the details of the primary business partner. All assessment stages will consider both roles as joint leads. The individual acting as the primary academic partner, and the individual acting as the primary business partner, may only be named in these joint roles on one application at a time. Businesses and research organisations may be primary or supporting partners on any number of applications. Organisations which are involved in multiple applications must confirm their commitment in their letter of support to provide all the stated resources for any successful applications they are involved in. The primary academic partner 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.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page:

1. Confirm you are the project lead.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.
3. 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.
4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI. 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.
   Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. 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.

Deadline

EPSRC must receive your application by 14 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 assessment panel, or office rejected due to substantive errors in the application, it cannot be resubmitted to the 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. EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to share the application and any personal information that it contains with relevant Research Councils if there is a substantial element of the proposed work which lies outside EPSRC’s remit.

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.

Institutional match funding

There is no requirement for match 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 match 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.

Publication of outcomes

EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at EPSRC Funding Applications Outcomes.