GrantRadar

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), with the Ministry of Defence

National research and training hub: electromagnetic environment

EPSRC and the Ministry of Defence will fund one hub combining research with cohort-based doctoral training in electromagnetic environment skills, for UK defence and national security. It is awarded as two 78-month grants starting 1 April 2027: research up to £8 million full economic cost (funded at 80%) and training for 30 doctoral students up to £6.4 million (funded at 100%). UK universities and other research organisations eligible for UKRI funding can lead. A lead's research organisation must complete an intent to submit survey by 1 December 2026, or it cannot apply; full applications then close on 19 January 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1 – £14,400,000
Closes in
19 days left
1 December
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, eligible independent research organisations and Catapult centres, and public sector research establishments (PSREs), under UKRI standard organisation and individual eligibility rules
  • Each organisation can lead only one application
  • The lead must host at least one student per year of intake and needs no degree awarding powers itself, but an organisation with them must be in the consortium
  • Businesses, third sector organisations and other universities can join as project partners but cannot receive funds
  • All staff, students and supervisors must provide details for a Baseline Personnel Security Standard check, and only students eligible for UK home fees can receive studentships

What it funds

One hub, awarded as a research grant and a training grant with a single strategic vision:

  • Research grant at 80% of full economic cost: staff costs including postdoctoral research assistants, fellows, research software engineers and data scientists
  • Research grant: UKRI-funded research facilities, travel and subsistence, training costs for staff, and equipment individually under £25,000
  • Research grant: secondments, staff exchanges and regular travel that initiate, grow and maintain collaborations with stakeholders
  • Research grant: up to 50% of a dedicated research fellowship for a mid-career academic, and short and long term research projects in partnership with Dstl
  • Training grant at 100% of eligible costs: tuition fees, stipends and research training support for 30 doctoral students over three cohorts of at least five
  • Training grant: leadership and management, setting up the focal award, developing cohort training, and wider career development
  • Training grant: two national training schools a year, each an intensive one-week course free at point of use

Research may span electromagnetics, electronic warfare, sensing, communications and spectrum operations across RF, infrared, optical and terahertz domains.

What it will not fund

  • Equipment over £25,000 in value (including VAT)
  • Costs associated with student supervision
  • Doctoral studentships within the research grant
  • Uninvited resubmissions of projects submitted to UKRI or any other funder

How to apply

  1. Have your research organisation complete the intent to submit survey by 11:59pm on 1 December 2026; without it you cannot apply
  2. Confirm your organisation is registered on the UKRI Funding Service, then select 'Start application' on the UKRI opportunity page and create an account
  3. Answer the application questions on vision and approach, team capability, resources and costs, training capability and culture, partnerships and governance, ethics, data management and trusted research
  4. Send the application to your research office for checking; it submits to EPSRC by 4:00pm on 19 January 2027
  5. A panel sifts applications and shortlisted applicants are interviewed, expected in February 2027

Find a Grant gives the closing date as 19 December 2026, but UKRI's own page says 19 January 2027 throughout. Check with EPSRC if in doubt.

Have ready

  • Letters or emails of support from project partners
  • Facility information, if using a major facility, with a technical assessment obtained before applying

Most answers are typed directly into the Funding Service.

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