UK Research and Innovation (EPSRC and STFC)

NQS Mission 2: Components, systems and architectures

EPSRC-led funding, under the UKRI Quantum Technologies Priority Programme, for ambitious research into the components, systems and architectures needed for secure, scalable quantum networks and a future quantum internet, supporting Mission 2 of the UK National Quantum Strategy. The project lead must be at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding, and projects are expected to have at least one project partner. Projects can cost up to £2.56 million full economic cost, of which EPSRC pays 80% (£2.05 million). They can last up to 33 months from a fixed start date of 31 May 2027, and must work with the separately funded Mission 2 Coordination Network.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £1 – £2,560,000
Deadline: 37 days left; 24 November
Effort: Heavy; budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

Open to organisations with standard UKRI eligibility; UKRI individual eligibility rules apply (see EPSRC's eligibility page)
The project lead must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding, and only the lead research organisation can submit
A person can be project lead on no more than one application but project co-lead on any number
International collaborators and UK partners not based at approved organisations take part as project partners, and Norway-based project co-leads (international) are not allowed
Projects are expected to include at least one relevant project partner (from academia, industry, government, infrastructure providers, standards bodies or the wider quantum ecosystem, including third-sector organisations) making a substantive contribution, unless you can clearly justify why that is not appropriate
Businesses and charities can therefore take part only as partners, not as lead applicants
No institutional matched funding is required beyond the standard 20% of FEC

What it funds

Research advancing the components, systems and architectures required for future quantum networking and communications systems, including:

Quantum network nodes, routing and switching (including quantum routers, switches, multiplexers and network architectures for distributing and managing quantum information)
Quantum memories and repeaters (including technologies that extend communication distances and support scalable entanglement distribution)
Photonic sources, detectors and entanglement generation technologies
Systems integration and classical-quantum co-design (including synchronisation, control, interoperability and integration with existing communications infrastructure)
End-to-end network architectures and distributed quantum capability
Verification, benchmarking, security and resilience of quantum networking systems
Application-driven network development and enabling theory
Costs including a contribution to the salary of the project lead and co-leads, research, project management and technical posts, consumables, travel and subsistence, data preservation, sharing and dissemination, estates and indirect costs, UKRI-funded research facilities, and equipment up to £400,000 per item
Activities that initiate, grow and maintain collaborations with stakeholders, such as secondments, staff exchanges and regular travel

the list of research areas is 'not an exhaustive list'. Projects should also generate insights and evidence to inform future Mission 2 priorities, and successful projects must engage actively with the Mission 2 Coordination Network. Extra reporting, monitoring and evaluation conditions apply, and extensions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

What it will not fund

PhD studentships
Uninvited resubmissions of projects already submitted to UKRI or any other funder
Norway-based project co-leads (international): the UKRI-RCN money follows cooperation agreement does not apply

How to apply

Make sure your research organisation is registered on the UKRI Funding Service (you cannot apply on Je-S)
If you plan to use a major facility, contact it before applying to check feasibility and get a technical assessment if the Funding Service marks one as required
Start an application on the UKRI Funding Service (https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1321/apply/1349), confirm you are the project lead and sign in or create an account
Answer the questions: summary, core team, Vision and Approach (uploaded PDF), applicant and team capability to deliver (R4RI), stakeholder engagement, project partners, facilities, data management and sharing, resources and cost justification, ethics and RRI, animals, genetically modified organisms, human participation, and Trusted Research and Innovation
Upload partner letters or emails of support as a single PDF
Send the application to your research office for checking; they submit it to UKRI by 4pm on 24 November 2026
Answer panel members' clarification questions in writing within two weeks if asked

optional introductions to public sector organisations can be requested from Quantumtechnologies@epsrc.ukri.org. Follow your organisation's internal deadlines, which will be earlier.

Have ready

Vision and Approach: a single PDF of no more than six sides of A4 (11-point Arial, 2cm margins), plus one optional page for a diagrammatic workplan, no larger than 8MB, named with the Funding Service number followed by 'Vision and Approach'
Project partner letters or emails of support: a single PDF, in English or Welsh, up to two sides of A4 per partner

other sections are answered in Funding Service text boxes (applicant and team capability 1,650 words, stakeholder engagement 1,200, resources and cost justification 1,000, summary 550, facilities 250, data management 250). Images in text boxes may not contain sentences, paragraphs or tables. Do not include letters of support from the host or co-leads' research organisations.

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