Phase 9 of the UK-Japan Civil Nuclear Research Programme

Proposals are invited for collaborative research projects that will accelerate and advance nuclear science, including decommissioning work relevant to the Fukushima and Sellafield nuclear facilities.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is running the ninth phase of the Civil Nuclear Research Programme with the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The call will support two small projects covering key research challenges to accelerate and advance nuclear science, including decommissioning relevant to Fukushima and Sellafield.

Proposals should address one of the following four overarching challenges:

  • Radioactive waste treatment.
  • Robotic and autonomous systems for decommissioning.
  • Fuel debris materials.
  • Decommissioning technology.

Projects should ideally complement existing UK Japan research projects funded under previous phases of the UK Japan Civil Nuclear Energy programme.

Proposals are invited from UK-based individuals employed by an eligible research organisation, including: UK higher education institutions; research council institutes; UKRI-approved independent research organisations; public sector research establishments; NHS bodies with research capacity. Further guidance on institutional eligibility is available here.

Individual applicants must collaborate with Japanese researchers and meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be employed at the submitting research organisation at lecturer level or equivalent.
  • Hold a fixed-term contract that extends beyond the duration of the proposed project, and the host research organisation is prepared to provide all the support normal for a permanent employee.
  • Hold an EPSRC, Royal Society or Royal Academy of Engineering fellowship aimed at later career stages.
  • Hold fellowships under other schemes.

Up to £1 million is available to fund the UK contingent of two research projects. Individual projects may request between £250,000 and £500,000.

Projects will have a fixed start date of 1 November 2022 and a fixed end date of 31 March 2025.

Applications should be submitted by the 16 June 2022 (16:00) deadline.

(This report was the subject of a ResearchConnect Newsflash.)