Facilities and resources - EPSRC

Contents

Find an EPSRC facility or resource

National Research Facilities (NRFs)

EPSRC funds thirteen National Research Facilities (NRFs). They are advanced and nationally leading research facilities designed to enable and produce high-value scientific impact for the community and their userbase. Each facility provides leading-edge capabilities and technique development at a national level or provides access to European research facilities.

You can apply for access to the NRFs through the facility and can cost access on your EPSRC grant application.

National Research Facility for X-ray Computed Tomography (NXCT)

You can apply through NXCT to use world-leading 3D imaging and data analysis facilities located at the universities of Manchester, Southampton, and Warwick, at University College London and at Diamond Light Source.

Find out how to access NXCT

Physical Sciences Data-Science Service (PSDS)

You can access tools and resources for research in the physical sciences through PSDS. These include commercial databases such as:

  • Cambridge Structural Database
  • SPRESIWEB
  • Inorganic Crystal Structure Database
  • ACD I-Lab
  • Available Chemicals Directory
  • DETHERM.

Find out how to access PSDS

EPSRC National Dark Fibre Facility (NDFF)

You can experiment with novel communication techniques through NDFIS. It provides a 650 kilometre single-mode dark fibre network interconnecting access points at four universities: Bristol, Cambridge, Southampton and University College London. It has other resources for researchers developing future wireless and optical communications.

Find out how to access NDFF

European Magnetic Field Laboratory (EMFL)

You can apply for magnet time at EMFL. The laboratory generates the highest possible magnetic fields that can be used for scientific research. The applications are open twice a year.

Find out how to access EMFL

EPSRC National Epitaxy Facility

You can use:

  • epitaxial materials
  • semiconductor characterisation and advanced fabrication facilities for semiconductor photonics
  • electronics research

Find out how to access the National Epitaxy Facility

HarwellXPS

You can use two photoelectron spectrometers providing XPS, UPS, LEIS and ion etching using single or cluster argon ions at HarwellXPS, the EPSRC national facility for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The facility is a collaboration between Cardiff University, University College London and the University of Manchester, which all have other XPS facilities you can use.

Find out how to access HarwellXPS

FELIX Laboratory (free electron lasers for infrared experiments)

You can apply to use infrared beam lines at FELIX Laboratory based in the Netherlands. The international free electron laser facility provides very bright, short pulsed, coherent light output, all the way from the mid-infrared to the microwave region of the spectrum.

Find out how to access FELIX Laboratory

EPSRC National Electron Paramagnetic Spectroscopy Facility and Service

You can use electron paramagnetic spectroscopy measurement and analysis services through the EPSRC National Electron Paramagnetic Spectroscopy Facility and Service based at the University of Manchester.

Find out how to access the National Electron Paramagnetic Spectroscopy Facility and Service

EPSRC National Crystallography Service (NCS)

You can use data collection services and full structure analysis services for single crystal X-ray diffraction through NCS, based at the University of Southampton and Diamond Light Source.

Find out how to access NCS

SuperSTEM

You can access cutting-edge instrumentation, data analysis, and expertise and training in advanced electron microscopy at SuperSTEM, the EPSRC national research facility for advanced electron microscopy. Its main location is at a purpose-built low-vibration laboratory on the SciTech Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus.

Find out how to access SuperSTEM

X-ray Materials Science Facility (XMaS)

You can apply for beam time at XMaS at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France. A wide range of X-ray techniques are available making use of white beam and monochromatic energies. It is funded by EPSRC.

Find out how to access XMaS

UK National Ion Beam Centre

You can carry out a wide range of research using ion implantation, ion irradiation and ion beam analysis at the Ion Beam Centre at the University of Surrey.

Find out how to access the Ion Beam Centre

Through the UK National Ion Beam Centre, you can also use the medium energy ion scattering facility at the University of Huddersfield to investigate the surface structure and properties of crystalline materials and carry out high-resolution depth profiling of non-crystalline nanometer thin layers.

UK High-field Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Facility

You can access high-field solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) at the UK High-field Solid-state NMR Facility at the University of Warwick.

Find out how to access the NMR Facility

Digital research infrastructures

ARCHER2 supercomputing

You can access high-performance computing through ARCHER2, the national supercomputing service.

Find out more about ARCHER2

Tier 2 high performance computing services

You can use supercomputing facilities at the Isambard 3 Tier 2 Supercomputer led by University of Bristol.

UKRI Infrastructure Fund: EPSRC facilities

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Infrastructure Fund supports investments in new, large-scale infrastructure that encourage step changes in research and innovation capability.

Find out more about:

National Wind Tunnel Facility

You can apply for testing time at one of 23 wind tunnels spread across 12 universities that make up the National Wind Tunnel Facility.

Find out more about the National Wind Tunnel Facility

STFC facilities

Through EPSRC funding, you can apply to use a number of facilities provided by or supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). You need to apply directly to these facilities. They include:

Other facilities and resources

Research Complex at Harwell

The research complex at Harwell has a mix of research hubs, individual groups and facilities in the physical, life and laser sciences. It is open to UK research teams and Diamond and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory staff. It’s a joint facility of:

  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  • Diamond Light Source
  • EPSRC
  • Medical Research Council
  • Natural Environment Research Council
  • STFC

Find out more about the Research Complex at Harwell

National Physical Laboratory (NPL) terahertz (THz) facility

NPL has been designated as an EPSRC THz facility, serving the UK academic community. The resources and services include:

  • time-domain spectroscopy
  • frequency-domain spectroscopy
  • device characterisation
  • THz communications
  • on-wafer measurements

NPL supports the academic and industrial applications of terahertz technologies by providing measurement services, characterisation services and consultancy for a range of different applications, as well as active participation in collaborative research projects.

Find out more about the NPL THz facility

Equipment sharing

You can search for research equipment available to share at universities across the UK through the Equipment Data website.

UKRI InfraPortal

You can search for other EPSRC facilities through the UKRI InfraPortal, the UK’s research and innovation infrastructure portal.

Last updated: 28 February 2025

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