Apply for funding to undertake a three-year ambitious research programme in quantum software and algorithm development.
You must:
The total value of the strategic package proposal should not exceed £2 million.
EPSRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost of proposals, with the research organisation funding the remaining 20%.
Standard EPSRC eligibility rules apply. Research grants are open to:
Check if your institution is eligible for funding.
You can apply if you are a resident in the UK and meet at least one of the conditions below:
Holders of postdoctoral level fellowships are not eligible to apply for an EPSRC grant.
Researchers looking to apply from outside the UK will need an eligible UK research institution to host them under contract for the duration of the award.
You can collaborate with academic researchers, industrial partners and international partners.
A collaborating organisation who has an integral role in the project and is providing a contribution of a specified value (in-kind or cash contribution) must be listed as a project partner. Project partners cannot normally receive funding directly from the grant. The two exceptions to this are where the project partner:
Submissions to this funding opportunity will count towards the EPSRC repeatedly unsuccessful applicants policy.
This strategic package award will allow the successful candidate to undertake an ambitious programme of research in quantum software and algorithms focusing on their applications.
As part of the strategic package, you will spend a minimum of 30% full-time equivalent (FTE) on secondment to the NQCC in the role of Chief Scientist.
In total, 50 to 100% FTE time can be requested through this funding opportunity.
As Chief Scientist, the successful applicant will use current research results to steer and advise on areas of high potential for the NQCC and contributions to the wider UK quantum computing landscape.
You will be part of the NQCC team and will make a key contribution in shaping and influencing the future UK quantum computing landscape, meeting the strategic aims of the National Quantum Technologies Programme (NQTP) (as set out in the NQTP strategic intent (PDF, 10.6MB)) and the NQCC technology roadmap (PDF, 2.9MB).
Specifically, the successful candidate will:
You must have a collaboration agreement in place between your institution and the NQCC within six months of the grant starting.
Full details of the secondment and role within the NQCC will be discussed with the NQCC leadership team following the successful awarding of the grant.
Informal discussions with the NQCC Director, Michael Cuthbert (in advance of submitting the application to fully understand expectations for the secondment) are strongly encouraged.
Proposals should be for three years in duration.
The proposal should detail:
This funding opportunity is a strategic intervention by EPSRC to support an individual working in quantum computing to carry out a research programme whilst in tandem, providing trusted advice and leadership to shape the wider UK quantum computing agenda.
This funding opportunity is targeted at those with expertise in quantum software and algorithms, and their applications.
Funding is available to support one successful applicant to carry out an ambitious research programme for the duration of three years, alongside a secondment to the NQCC where they will actively contribute to the shaping of the NQCC programme and wider quantum computing strategy for the UK.
Funding for costs associated with the secondment should be included as part of the proposal.
Between 50% and 100% of applicant time can be applied for on the strategic package award with a minimum of 30 % FTE to be spent on the secondment to NQCC (irrespective of the total % FTE time requested).
Example scenarios include:
This is not an exhaustive list of options. You should request time as is appropriate to your situation and proposed programme of research.
The total value of the strategic package proposal should not exceed £2 million.
EPSRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost of proposals, with the research organisation funding the remaining 20%.
Equipment over £10,000 in value (including VAT) is not available through this funding opportunity.
Smaller items of equipment (individually under £10,000) should be in the ‘Directly incurred – other costs’ heading.
Up to £500,000 of in-kind contribution from NQCC comprising provision of access to quantum computing resources (including third party prototypes, simulators and high performance compute) will be made available on successful award of the grant. This should be discussed directly with the NQCC Director.
Find out more information about EPSRC’s approach to equipment funding.
You are expected to work within the EPSRC framework for responsible innovation.
If you are planning to include international collaborators on your proposal, you should visit Trusted Research for guidance on getting the most out of international collaboration whilst protecting intellectual property, sensitive research and personal information.
You must apply using the Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) system.
We recommend you start your application early. You can save completed details in Je-S at any time and return to continue your application later.
EPSRC must receive your application by 16:00 on 14 July 2022.
When applying select ‘new document’ then:
After completing the application, you must ‘submit document’ which will send your application to your host organisation’s administration.
Your host organisation’s administration must complete the submission process. You should allow sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process between submitting your proposal to them and the funding opportunity closing date.
As well as the Je-S application form, the following documents must be submitted:
You should attach these documents as PDFs to avoid errors. They should be completed in single-spaced Arial 11 font or similar-sized sans serif typeface.
Find out more about writing proposals for EPSRC funding.
EPSRC will not fund a project if it believes that there are ethical concerns that have been overlooked or not appropriately accounted for.
All relevant parts of the ‘ethical information’ section must be completed.
Find out more about the guidance on completing ethical information on the Je-S form. EPSRC guidance can be found under ‘additional information’.
As part of the application process, you will be invited to nominate up to three potential reviewers who you feel have the expertise to assess your proposal. Please ensure that any nominations meet the EPSRC policy on conflicts of interest.
Your application will be assessed by peer review. It will be sent electronically to at least three reviewers, including at least one nominated by you.
You will have the opportunity to respond to reviewer comments if your application gains enough support.
You will then be invited to an interview stage. The interview panel will view the proposal, reviewers’ comments and your response, and together with your interview responses, will score the application against our assessment criteria and rank it with other proposals.
Your application is assessed first and foremost on quality (primary) and applicant and partnerships (primary). It is also assessed on national importance (secondary), resources and management (secondary), and strategic leadership (secondary) and research environment (secondary).
If your proposal does not clearly meet the funding opportunity requirements, it will be rejected prior to the peer review stage.
Interviews will take place in early October 2022.
Outcomes will be communicated to applicants by the end of October 2022.
Find out more about the EPSRC assessment process.
Quality (primary) research excellence, making reference to:
National importance (secondary) and how the research:
Applicant and partnerships (primary) and the ability to deliver the proposed project, making reference to:
Resources and management (secondary) and the effectiveness of the proposed planning and management, and whether the requested resources are appropriate and have been fully justified, making reference to:
Strategic leadership (secondary), where you must demonstrate:
Research environment (secondary), where you must demonstrate:
Feedback in addition to reviewers’ comments will not be provided by EPSRC.
Find out more about the EPSRC peer review process and guidance for reviewers.
Additional information can also be found on the process and guidance for standard calls.
For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal, please contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.
For questions relating to scope of the funding opportunity, eligible costs, the peer review process and any other elements specific to EPSRC, please contact:
Email: anke.davis@epsrc.ukri.org
Email: quantumtechnologies@epsrc.ukri.org
For specific queries about the secondment element of the award at the NQCC, please contact:
Email: michael.cuthbert@stfc.ac.uk
Any queries regarding the submission of proposals through Je-S should be directed to the Je-S helpdesk.
01793 444164
The UK NQTP is a £1 billion dynamic collaboration between industry, academia and government.
It represents and guides the fission of a leading-edge science into transformative new products and services.
The NQTP supports ideas, innovation and investment to secure UK advantage and opportunities in the globally competitive new quantum era.
The NQTP acts as a cornerstone for the underpinning scientific research, skills training and international collaboration vital to building a resilient UK quantum-enabled economy.
EPSRC is a key partner of the NQTP, supporting the translation of academic research in quantum technologies out of the labs and into industry. It has a portfolio of research and skills investments to support this aim totalling over £90 million of active grants in 2022.
Through the quantum technology hubs, EPSRC supports a broad range of application areas in quantum technologies, including:
The NQCC is a new research institution funded through UKRI, which is dedicated to accelerating the development of quantum computing by addressing the challenges of scalability.
Working with partners across industry, government and the research community, the NQCC will create the necessary research and development capabilities through coordination and delivery of a technical programme, alongside the commissioning and operation of new facilities.
The programme will deliver assured quantum computing capability, enabling the UK to remain internationally competitive.
The centre will be headquartered in a purpose-built facility at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory campus in Oxfordshire, which is due for completion in 2023.
Read further details on the NQTP strategic intent (PDF, 2.9MB) and the NQCC strategic intent.
In addition to the requirements set out in standard UKRI grant conditions ‘RGC 7.4 research monitoring and evaluation’ and ’7.5 disclosure and inspection’, we reserve the right to instigate a review of all or part of the grant at any stage during the lifetime of the award as well as after the grant has finished.
A mid-term review of this grant will take place to assess the performance of the grant in line with the peer reviewed body of work, published scheme assessment criteria and key performance indicators or milestones and deliverables.
We will give you due notice of the date of any review and will provide details of the terms of reference and documentation required.
Any review will be conducted by an expert panel, which will make recommendations to us for the grant’s future.
Grants are awarded under the standard UKRI grant terms and conditions.
EPSRC is fully committed to develop and promote responsible innovation. Research has the ability to not only produce understanding, knowledge and value, but also unintended consequences, questions, ethical dilemmas and, at times, unexpected social transformations.
We recognise that we have a duty of care to promote approaches to responsible innovation that will initiate ongoing reflection about the potential ethical and societal implications of the research that we sponsor and to encourage our research community to do likewise.
