EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Humanities and Social Sciences
The EPSRC brings many opportunities for collaborative research in many areas of its portfolio, including the open-themed research fellowships.
Cross-disciplinary research is an area that UKRI is expected to promote further, and new opportunities could arise.
Research areas, themes and priorities.
Areas:
- chemistry
- engineering
- information and communications technologies
- materials
- mathematical sciences
- physics
EPSRC has more than 100 research areas in its portfolio. Within those areas, there are the following themes:
- digital economy
- energy and decarbonisation
- engineering
- healthcare technologies
- information and communication technologies (ICT)
- manufacturing the future
- mathematical sciences
- physical sciences
- quantum technologies
- research infrastructure
and also thematic areas which develop strategy across the breadth of EPSRC’s remit:
priorities are:
- the physical and mathematical sciences powerhouse – enabling curiosity-driven discovery with boundless potential
- frontiers in engineering, manufacturing and technology – unleashing our productivity potential
- digital futures – the future of communications, computing and the internet
- engineering net zero – decarbonising our economy and society, creating an alternative energy future and developing truly circular economies
- artificial intelligence, digitisation and data: driving value and security – powering transformative change and the next industrial revolution
- transforming health and healthcare – improving quality of life through innovative technological solutions
- ensuring an effective ecosystem – a globally attractive engineering and physical sciences research and innovation system.
UKRI Strategy 2022-2027 & Corporate Plan 2022-2025 and EPSRC Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-2025
- UKRI's Strategy 2022-2027 transforming tomorrrow together is available online.
- The latest UKRI Corporate Plan 2022-2025 (August 2022): "UKRI’s corporate plan demonstrates how the world-class research and innovation UKRI supports will drive economic, social, environmental and cultural benefits for all."
- The EPSRC Strategic Delivery Plan 2022-25.
Schemes
The way to apply to the EPSRC is normally by answering specific calls, but there are ways to apply for your own projects using the schemes available on the funding routes page of the website.
- Fellowships: Open to any theme within the EPSRC remit and portfolio research areas and themes.
- Research capacity: Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration, Programme Grants, Strategic Packages
- New Ideas and Networking: Network grants, funding for workshops, Transformative research (IDEAS Factory, Sandpits, Bright IDEAS, etc.