Pre-Announcement: the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund
The UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF) supports large-scale capital projects from UK higher education providers (HEPs), with a significant track record of research excellence, to improve their research facilities and to build strategic partnerships between HEPs and other research organisations. The aim of the funding is to encouraging further investment in HEP research and to strengthen the contribution of the research base to economic growth.
Applicants for this seventh round will have the option to choose between two tranches:
- Tranche one: a one-stage process in which full-stage applications will be submitted directly. This is for projects at a more mature stage of development, where the shorter timescale is expected to be more responsive to live opportunities
- Tranche two: a two-stage process, with an ‘expression of interest’ stage followed by submission of full bids. This is for projects that require further development before they are ready for assessment (for example, partnership development, planning permission).
The funding available is not discipline or sector-specific. However, projects should support national strategic priorities for research and innovation.
Funding is available to all UK HEPs eligible for research funding from either:
- Research England
- SFC
- HEFCW
- DfENI.
This round will offer funding for bids of between £10 million and £50 million, with a total of £100 million available for 2022.
Applicants are required to source double matched co-investment from private sources, via capital and in-kind contributions, that will directly support the proposed capital activity or the research it supports.
Funding is available for capital services and goods only. Applicants should demonstrate how the operations of the proposed capital activity will be financially sustained.
The next round is due to launch in July 2022. Further details will be updated when available.
This is a pre-announcement and the information may change.