Preannouncement of EPSRC Call for Manufacturing Research Hubs for a Sustainable Future

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is inviting applicants to establish large-scale, multidisciplinary research hubs in support of manufacturing, environmental sustainability and net zero. Projects should address major, long-term challenges facing manufacturing industries.

The hubs will deliver a programme of innovative research in the engineering and physical sciences, related to the challenges in commercialising early-stage research, manufacturing and environmental sustainability. They will feature high quality, multidisciplinary research, strong engagement with relevant manufacturing industries, and will take a leadership role in their national network. In particular, they will promote active equality, diversity and inclusion action planning and delivery.

The hub and spoke model will be used with the lead institution supporting the core management and running of the hub. This will be surrounded by academic or industrial ‘spokes’ that will be involved across the different work packages.

Proposals should include clear evidence that the bid was co-created with users. They must also have industrial engagement in either cash or in-kind contributions from relevant and diverse sectors. This should include building plans to engage with a new and emerging range of relevant manufacturing companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, throughout the lifetime of the hub.

The EPSRC will not fund two hubs in the same area, or in an area of research where there is an existing manufacturing hub ending in or after the 2023 to 2024 financial year. Proposals must demonstrably lie within the remit (minimum 50%) of the manufacturing the future theme.

Applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding. This includes: UK higher education institutions; research council institutes; UKRI-approved independent research organisations; eligible public sector research establishments; and NHS bodies with research capacity. Full details of institutional eligibility criteria are available here.

EPSRC expects hub directors to have a track-record of collaborating with users.

A total of £24 million is available to fund two projects for a maximum of seven years. The maximum available to each project will be £12 million at 80% full Economic Cost (fEC). Grants will be awarded with a start date of 1 April 2023, with a possible slippage of up to six months.

This funding opportunity is intended to be the first in a series of planned opportunities for manufacturing research hubs for a sustainable future over the coming years.

Stage one applications should be submitted between 21 April 2022 and 7 June 2022 (16:00).