Manufacturing Scale-up Research and Innovation: Automotive and Aerospace
Manufacturing Scale-up Research and Innovation: Automotive and Aerospace supports researchers and industry partners in scaling manufacturing technologies and processes to improve productivity and UK competitiveness.
Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: November 11, 2026, 4:00pm UK time (Mandatory intent to submit) | December 9, 2026, 4:00pm UK time (Full application)
Funding Amounts: £17.6 million total; large projects £4.5–£5.8 million FEC over up to four years; small projects up to £600,000 FEC over up to two years; UKRI funds 80% FEC
Summary: Supports research overcoming manufacturing scale-up barriers for recently developed technologies and processes in automotive and aerospace.
Key Information: Industry partners must commit matched funding from the outset, with approximately 1:1 non-public funding to UKRI funding expected at application.
Description
UK Research and Innovation’s IS8+ Priority Programme for Advanced Manufacturing supports research that turns recently developed technologies and processes into repeatable, cost-effective and flexible manufacturing capabilities. Managed by EPSRC on UKRI’s behalf, this opportunity addresses the gap between laboratory research and industrial production in automotive and aerospace. It funds scaling production, not developing new technologies or products.
Projects should integrate materials, processes, systems and manufacturing, with industry partners shaping research challenges and applying outputs. Priorities include additive manufacturing, advanced composites, automated assembly, digital manufacturing and electrified propulsion. Work may also address flexible manufacturing, robotics, sensors, resource efficiency and supply-chain integration. The goals are to improve productivity, reduce risks in large capital projects and strengthen UK competitiveness through sustainable manufacturing.
