We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.
The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.
Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.
You can only apply for this funding opportunity if we have invited you to do so. The start application link will be provided via email.
To apply
- Confirm you are the project lead.
- Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org
Please allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service.
- Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.
- Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
- Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
- Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.
Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. You should:
- use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
- insert each new image onto a new line
- provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
- ensure files are smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format
Watch our research office webinars about the new Funding Service
For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:
References
Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used. Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.
References should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors, for example (Smith, Research Paper, 2019).
You must not include links to web resources to extend your application.
Deadline
EPSRC must receive your application by 4:00pm UK time on Tuesday 22 October 2024.
You will not be able to apply after this time.
Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.
Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected. If an application is withdrawn prior to peer review or office rejected due to substantive errors in the application, it cannot be resubmitted to the opportunity.
Personal data
Processing personal data
EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.
We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.
Publication of outcomes
EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at EPSRC Funding Application Outcomes.
If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.
Core team
List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:
- project lead (PL)
- project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
- project co-lead (international) (PcL (I))
- specialist
- grant manager
- professional enabling staff
- research and innovation associate
- technician
- visiting researcher
- researcher co-lead (RcL)
Only list one individual as project lead.
Please note that only researchers from Norway are eligible to be project co-lead (international) for this opportunity, in accordance with the UKRI and Research Council of Norway Money Follows Cooperation agreement. International applicants from other countries are not eligible.
Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.
Summary
Word limit: 550
In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.
We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:
- opinion-formers
- policymakers
- the public
- the wider research community
Guidance for writing a summary
Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:
- context
- the challenge the project addresses
- aims and objectives
- potential applications and benefits
Application questions
Vision
Word limit: 1,500
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how your proposed work:
- demonstrates a coherent strategic vision and establishes clear outcomes for the network
- is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)
- has the potential to advance current understanding, generates new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area
- is timely given current trends, context and needs
- impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment
- will embed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) considerations into all aspects of the programme, and how these will guide your aims, as well as other activities such as stakeholder engagement, events and networking
Additionally, explain how your proposed work aligns strategically to the funding opportunity aims and scope, and how it will:
- bring together the UK and international community in terahertz (THz) systems
- complement existing research and build capability
- act as a focal point for UK research capability
- build collaboration and knowledge exchange across research and stakeholder communities across the UK and internationally
- identify areas for future collaboration
- drive progress in THz research by bringing together communities spanning academia, industry, policy, and others
Within the Vision section we also expect you to:
- describe the concept, context and coordination function of your Network
- demonstrate the alignment of the application to the funding opportunity objectives
- clearly state the challenges that you will address
- explain how you will embed environmental sustainability within your activities
- identify the potential direct or indirect benefits and who the beneficiaries might be
- identify key communities and future network members
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Your application may be rejected if images are provided without a descriptive legend in the text box, or are used to replace text that could be input into the text box.
References may be included within this section.
Approach
Word limit: 1,500
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
- if applicable, uses a clearly written and transparent methodology
- if applicable, summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed
- will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
- describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work
- will build EDI considerations into the formation, operation and governance of the network, including how these will be operationalised
Additionally explain how your proposed work will deliver against the expectations outlined in the funding opportunity, and how it will:
- deliver a clear focal point for UK capability in THz research
- build an internationally recognised point of engagement for academia, policy, industry and other stakeholders in THz research
- establish leadership of diverse, inclusive interdisciplinary research communities in THz across the UK and internationally
- forge new connections between relevant international communities, and new and existing projects, to accelerate knowledge transfer and the realisation of near and longer-term impacts
- lead to an increase in research projects and collaborations in fundamental and applied THz research internationally (for example via UKRI lead agency agreements)
- deliver greater community capacity and capability in THz research, with consideration of new methods, tools and approaches, and the training and skills required to support THz research in the long term
- support engagement with industry to facilitate translation of research outputs into technological impacts
- deliver externally distributed seedcorn funding for small-scale innovative research projects, pilot projects and feasibility studies
- deliver a THz science and technology roadmap, co-created by the research and stakeholder communities, including a 10-year vision for THz research. This should identify key research and innovation opportunities, and the pathways needed to deliver significant impact, as well as key risks
- play a broader role in building a diverse and inclusive research community
Within the Approach section we also expect you to:
- explain how any UK and international partnerships will be planned and managed
- explain how the Network will enable stakeholders to work together, network and build capability in a strategic area
- outline future plans for sustaining the networks built beyond the lifetime of grant
You should also provide:
- a detailed and comprehensive project plan including milestones and timelines (additional one-page A4)
- a detailed and appropriate plan for how you will acquire and manage data that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes (additional one-page A4)
References may be included within this section.
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Your application may be rejected if images are provided without a descriptive legend in the text box or are used to replace text that could be input into the text box.
The project and data management plan must be uploaded as a PDF. This should be a single document, not more than two sides of A4, single spaced in paper in 11-point Arial (or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm. You may include images, graphs, tables. For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘project and data management plan’. Save this document as a single PDF file, no bigger than 8MB. Unless specifically requested, do not include any sensitive data within the attachment.
Applicant and team capability to deliver
Word limit: 1,650
Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, including any key project partners, have:
- the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
- the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
- the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
- contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
The word count for this section is 1,650 words, 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.
Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you, and if relevant your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help to deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.
Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed below. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:
- contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
- the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
- contributions to the wider research and innovation community
- contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit
Additions
Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).
You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.
References may be included within this section.
UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new Funding Service.
For full details, see Eligibility as an individual.
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Your application may be rejected if images are provided without a descriptive legend in the text box, or are used to replace text that could be input into the text box.
Added Value
Word limit: 500
What is the added value that this network will enable that would not be possible otherwise?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Using the text box below, demonstrate what the network will achieve, considering how it will do the following:
- create new interdisciplinary research communities and topics
- provide a critical mass of researchers with a range of expertise and experience
- promote mobility between academe, universities and industry
- achieve sustainability beyond the funding requested
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Your application may be rejected if images are provided without a descriptive legend in the text box, or are used to replace text that could be input into the text box.
Governance
Word limit: 500
How will you manage the award to successfully deliver its objectives?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how the proposed award will be managed, demonstrating that it:
- will be effectively governed, including details about advisory structures
- will be effectively and inclusively managed, demonstrated by a clear management plan
- has clear leadership team roles and responsibilities
- will manage and encourage partnerships with non-HEI organisations across government, industry and civil society
- will manage and encourage international partnerships
- has plans for monitoring your progress as well as self-evaluation throughout the lifetime of your award
- will put in place appropriate governance and administration to deliver the range of devolved funding opportunities
- will manage engagement with stakeholder partners, maintain partner relationships and bring new partners on board throughout the grant lifetime
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Your application may be rejected if images are provided without a descriptive legend in the text box or are used to replace text that could be input into the text box.
Resources and cost justification
Word limit: 1,000
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:
- project staff
- significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)
- international collaboration costs
Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:
- are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified
- represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes
- maximise potential outcomes and impacts
Flexible fund
Word limit: 1,000
How will you use and manage the flexible fund?
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Explain how you will use and manage the flexible fund so that it:
- supports your objectives
- distributes funding appropriately across a diverse range of activities
- where appropriate, distributes funding through robust, transparent competitive processes
- builds capacity in key fields and career stages
- ensures appropriate processes for monitoring, reporting and governance of funded activities
Project partners
Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.
A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities.
Add the following project partner details:
- the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
- the project partner contact name and email address
- the type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value
If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Project partners: letters (or emails) of support
Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the Project partners section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter ‘N/A’. Each letter or email you provide should:
- confirm the partner’s commitment to the project
- clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them
- describe any additional value that they bring to the project
- the page limit is two sides A4 per partner
The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.
Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the contributions template.
For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.
Do not provide letters of support from host and project co-leads’ research organisations.
Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)
Word limit: 500
What are the ethical and RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
What the assessors are looking for in your response
Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:
- the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations
- how you will manage these considerations
If you are collecting or using data you should identify:
- any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data)
- formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with
Within this section you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.
Your application may be rejected if images are provided without a descriptive legend in the text box or are used to replace text that could be input into the text box.
Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:
- animals
- human participants
- genetically modified organisms
