EPSRC Adventurous Manufacturing

Funding for exceptional and potentially transformative science and engineering research projects that contribute to the EPSRC’s vision for manufacturing research.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) runs the Adventurous Manufacturing funding opportunity to provide funding for exceptional and potentially transformative science and engineering research projects that contribute to the EPSRC’s vision for manufacturing research.

It is anticipated that the feasibility projects funded through this opportunity will focus on high-risk discovery research that will help to deliver transformative manufacturing solutions that improve productivity, increase resource efficiency and/or minimise waste, or otherwise facilitate a transition to a sustainable manufacturing system.

Proposed projects should:

• Draw on advances in underlying science and technology.
• Focus on the design and development of new and existing manufacturing processes, systems, networks or both.
• Explicitly consider the pathway to manufacture, including production scale up and integration within the wider industrial system.

The project must be within remit with at least 50% of the proposed work falling within the manufacturing domain.

The funders wish to reach academics working at the interface between underpinning science and manufacturing who want to move their work into the manufacturing domain, as well as academics already working in the full spectrum of manufacturing research (including, but not limited to; simulation, design, production, fabrication, systems and services). The intention is to help solve some of the most significant challenges and opportunities facing the UK today and in the future.

A high degree of risk is expected and welcomed to encourage speculative ideas or new ways of thinking. Those projects that are successful should have the potential to deliver significant impact towards a more productive and sustainable UK economy. To that end the inclusion of project partners is encouraged, although not a formal requirement.

Projects can be between 12 to 18 months in duration. It is expected that applicants will need to plan for further funding to move successful projects towards commercialisation. As such, while there are no discrete plans for associated ‘follow-on’ funding with this funding opportunity, applicants should consider seeking additional support through EPSRC and UKRI funding opportunities such as standard mode, as well as private company or other investments.