Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2027 (Closing date)
Funding Amounts: 80% of full economic cost, with no grant-value limit; typically one to three years
Summary: Supports new investigators in engineering and physical sciences to develop an independent research vision and establish a research group.
Key Information: Applicants must hold a lectureship or equivalent, with no previous research-group leadership and limited prior funding.
Description
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), supports discovery-led research through its New Investigator Awards. The scheme helps researchers develop their own research vision and establish a group to pursue it. Projects should have a single, clear vision with well-defined objectives and outcomes, rather than a complex, multifaceted programme. Career development, mentoring and host-organisation support are central to the award.
Research may address any field within EPSRC’s remit, including engineering, mathematical and physical sciences, AI, digital security, energy, healthcare technologies, ICT, manufacturing and quantum technologies. EPSRC particularly welcomes research advancing artificial intelligence, engineering biology, future telecommunications, semiconductors and quantum technologies. These applications compete on scientific and engineering merit alongside all other proposals.
