The EPSRC Manufacturing the Future (MtF) theme are looking to invest in a portfolio of excellent novel research into technologies or platforms required to enable manufacturing at scale, with high precision that can approach the nanoscale.
Up to £7 million will be provided for this call, for projects expected to be up to three years in duration.
Proposals within scope of this call must be focussed on enabling precision composition (for example, at nano-scale, atomic scale) to be done at large scale ‘manufacturability’, using advanced materials and multi-material processing. Research should be on products or platform development.
This call is for standard research proposals.
Scope
The MtF theme has recently refreshed its research priorities with input from members of the manufacturing research and innovation community. ‘Precision made and scalable at cost’ has emerged as one of the new priorities.
Precision refers to form, function, scale, aspect ratio, and so on. Precision manufacturing addresses technologies or processes where parts can be fabricated with very high precision and exceptionally low tolerances, over an arbitrary large size – manufacturability.
‘Precision made and scalable at cost’ therefore is to highlight a priority for research into the understanding of how to deliver into a material, at large-scale (manufacturability), highly accurate precision that can approach the nanoscale. Supporting research in this area will therefore:
- reduce costs of manufacturing nanoscale products and nanoscale precision
- expand the capability to manufacture products using advanced materials
- encourage UK-based innovation, manufacturing and platform creation with a view to generate machines and capability which has domestic innovation at its core and does not rely on ‘bought in’ technology
- deliver methods and technologies which allow for scalable production and manufacturing of precision materials.
This call will fund a portfolio of novel research that addresses one or more of the above, whilst building new capabilities and processes.
Find more information about EPSRC’s portfolio and strategies.
Inclusion of project partners is encouraged, although not a formal requirement of this call. All applicants are however encouraged to think more broadly about industrial engagement, including building in plans to engage with a range of relevant manufacturing companies, including SMEs, throughout the project.
A user engagement strategy describing this approach must be submitted as part of the full proposal, and the appropriateness of this will be assessed under the applicant and partnerships criterion.
Full proposals should not differ significantly from the associated outline proposal. EPSRC reserves the right to reject, without reference to peer review, any proposals where this advice has not been followed.
Funding available
There is up to £7 million available through this call for projects expected to be up to three years in duration. Grant size should be in line with standard research grants. Applicants intending to request more than £2.5 million are strongly advised to contact and discuss with EPSRC staff in advance of submission.
Equipment over £10,000 in value (including VAT) is not available through this call. Smaller items of equipment (individually under £10,000) should be in the ‘directly incurred – other costs’ heading.
Find more information on equipment funding.
