Funding opportunities

EPSRC leads the Research Councils UK Nanoscience Programme in which EPSRC, BBSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC and STFC work together to promote responsible innovation, leading to exciting new developments and the promise of positive impact in the areas of energy, healthcare and the environment.

For information on funding opportunities across the Nanoscience Programme please visit the individual Research Councils websites.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences - from mathematics to materials science and from information technology to structural engineering. Working with UK universities, it invests around £850 million a year in world class research and training to promote future economic development and improved quality of life.

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the UK's principal funder of basic and strategic biological research. To deliver its mission, BBSRC supports research and postgraduate training in universities and research centres throughout the UK, including BBSRC-sponsored institutes, and promotes knowledge transfer from research to applications in business, industry and policy, and public engagement in the biosciences.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. It supports independent, high quality research relevant to business, the public sector and voluntary organisations. At any one time the ESRC supports over 4,000 researchers and postgraduate students in academic institutions and research policy institutes.

The Medical Research Council (MRC) funds world leading research at Universities and Institutes, as well as in hospitals and MRC units in the UK and Africa. Its aim is to improve human health through scientific research. Their interests range from molecular level science to public health medicine, which has lead to pioneering discoveries in understanding the human body and human diseases. Working closely with the NHS and the UK Health Departments, the MRC gives a higher priority to research that is likely to make a real difference to clinical practice and the health of the population.

The Natural Environment Research Council's (NERC) mission is to gather and apply knowledge, improve understanding and predict the behaviour of the natural environment and its resources. NERC funds and manages research and training in earth system science, advancing knowledge of planet Earth as a complex, interacting system. Its work covers the full range of atmospheric, earth, terrestrial and aquatic sciences, from the depth of the oceans to the upper atmosphere. Because the environment is global, they work with scientists and other partners around the world. 

The Science and Technology Facilities Council was formed in April 2007 by merging the Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Council and the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils. With an annual budget of £500 million, STFC funds the best research within in astronomy and nuclear and particle physics; enables the research community to have access to the best facilities in the world; provides leadership and leverage in the development and implementation of strategies for large facilities; increases the UK technology capability, engagement with industry and knowledge transfer.