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The UK’s Research Councils provide funding for a variety of research activities through a number of different schemes. Funding available covers a breadth of research areas, including blue skies research, long-term research and applied research. An annual business plan competition is also intended for researchers who want to develop a business proposition based around their work.

The Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the Research Council most applicable for technology in the electronics sector. The fund intended particularly for commercialising research work is known as the Follow-on Fund. Click here for a guide to funding available from the UK’s Research Councils.

Research Council’s Business Plan Competition
The Competition is open to researchers based in UK Higher Education Institutions or Public Sector Research Establishments who want to develop their business ideas towards commercialisation. Entrants receive access to training and specialist advice and the support of coaches and mentors as well as a cash prize for the winner and runners up

Response Funding
This group of funds is meant to respond to your research proposal. The funds are intended to cover anything from small travel grants to multi-million pound research programmes. The EPSRC says it particularly wants to encourage high-risk/high-return research proposals relating to new concepts or techniques.

New Academics
Funds intended to serve first time academics and their research programmes.

Fellowships
These are funds for advanced academic researchers. There are a variety of grants available, from funds intended for recently qualified PhDs, for experienced postdoctoral researchers and established academics who want to spend more time on research work.

Networking, Travel and Collaboration
Grants available to researchers for travel and overseas study. There is also funding for researchers from overseas coming to a UK research centre, for networking events and for setting up workshops and summer school events.

Knowledge Transfer
This type of funding includes the Follow-on fund, which provides money for up to 12 months’ funding for EPSRC grant holders to take their research to the stage where it can be a commercial proposition. The Follow-on fund is intended for very early stage research work, it is available annually and is issued in the Autumn. Other Knowledge Transfer funding available includes funding for Intergrated Knowledge Centres. One example of this is the Advanced Manufacturing Technologies for Photonics and Electronics centre at the University of Cambridge.

Sustaining Research Capacity
Long-term funds intended for leading research groups in a specific area of research.

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