Funder: UK Research and Innovation
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 (Intent to submit) | December 19, 2026 (Listed closing date) | January 19, 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: One 78-month hub: research up to £8 million FEC at 80%; training up to £6.4 million at 100% of eligible costs
Summary: Supports an integrated research and doctoral training hub building UK electromagnetic expertise for defence and national security.
Key Information: All staff, students and supervisors must provide details for Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks.
Description
UK Research and Innovation’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with Ministry of Defence (MOD) co-funding, will support one national research and training hub addressing shortages in radio frequency engineering and electromagnetic science. The hub must combine high-quality research with cohort-based doctoral education, supporting the defence priorities of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and protection of national security.
The programme covers fundamental and applied work in sensing, communications, electronic warfare and spectrum operations across radio frequency, infrared, optical and terahertz domains. Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) will provide technical advice, guidance and governance. Through doctoral cohorts, research projects, a dedicated fellowship, national training schools and an annual symposium, the hub will develop specialists and future scientific leaders able to operate in complex and contested electromagnetic environments.
