NQS Mission 2: Components, systems and architectures (Grant)

This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) individual eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit EPSRC’s eligibility page.

You may be named as project lead in no more than one application. There is no limit to the number of applications you can be named as project co-lead.

International researchers

The UKRI-RCN (UK Research and Innovation and Research Council of Norway) money follows cooperation agreement does not apply to this funding opportunity. As such applications submitted to this funding opportunity cannot include a Norway-based project co-lead (international).

You should include all international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners.

Resubmissions

We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder.

Find out more about UKRI’s resubmission’s policy.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks

• support for people with caring responsibilities

• flexible working

• alternative working patterns

UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Demand management

Demand management is not currently being applied to this funding opportunity. However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity.

Aim

EPSRC are delivering this funding opportunity as part of the UKRI Quantum Technologies Priority Programme.

This funding opportunity supports the aims of the UK National Quantum Strategy Mission 2 (QM2), which seeks to establish the UK as a world leader in quantum networking and communications by developing secure, scalable quantum networks and laying the foundations for a future quantum internet. By 2035, QM2 aims for the UK to have deployed advanced quantum networks at scale and to be pioneering the technologies and capabilities needed to realise the quantum internet.

Successful applications will undertake ambitious research that addresses key scientific and technological challenges underpinning future quantum networks and communications systems. Projects should demonstrate how the proposed research will contribute to the development of quantum networking capabilities, strengthen the UK research and innovation ecosystem, and support progress towards the long-term objectives of Mission 2. Projects should also consider how the knowledge, evidence, capabilities and partnerships generated through the research could inform the development and prioritisation of future activities within Mission 2, helping to shape subsequent phases of mission delivery.

You are encouraged to consider pathways to impact and commercialisation, as well as engagement with relevant stakeholders, including industry, infrastructure providers, network operators, government organisations, and the wider quantum communications community, where appropriate to the proposed research.

QM2 builds on significant advances in quantum communications, networking technologies, photonics, quantum memories, distributed quantum systems and entanglement-based networking. Delivering its ambitions will require research into the components, systems and architectures needed to enable secure, scalable and resilient quantum networks across local, regional and national scales, while supporting future international connectivity and longer-term quantum internet capabilities.

Scope

This funding opportunity will support research that advances the components, systems and architectures required for future quantum networking and communications systems.

Key research challenges include:

• quantum networking components, systems and architectures

• integration of quantum and classical infrastructure

• enabling technologies required to support future deployment and adoption

This funding opportunity will support ambitious research projects that address the fundamental challenges of quantum networking and communications and advance the components, systems and architectures required for secure, scalable quantum networks, accelerating progress towards the objectives of Mission 2.

Research in the following areas is welcomed:

• quantum network nodes, routing and switching (including quantum routers, switches, multiplexers and network architectures for distributing and managing quantum information)

• quantum memories and repeaters (including technologies that extend communication distances and support scalable entanglement distribution)

• photonic sources, detectors and entanglement generation technologies (including foundational components required for future network deployment)

• systems integration and classical-quantum co-design (including synchronisation, control, interoperability and integration with existing communications infrastructure)

• end-to-end network architectures and distributed quantum capability (including approaches to networking quantum devices and supporting future distributed quantum computing applications)

• verification, benchmarking, security and resilience (including methods to characterise, validate and assure quantum networking systems)

• application-driven network development and enabling theory (including research that links technology development to future use cases and deployment scenarios)

This is not an exhaustive list. You are encouraged to propose innovative research that addresses fundamental challenges relevant to the delivery of Mission 2.

In addition to advancing fundamental research, proposals should seek to generate insights and evidence that can help inform future directions for Mission 2. This may include identifying opportunities, challenges, capability gaps, technology roadmaps, deployment requirements or research priorities relevant to achieving the 2035 goal of having the world’s most advanced quantum network deployed in the UK.

End-user involvement

Projects are expected to include at least one relevant project partner, unless you can provide a clear justification for why this is not appropriate for the proposed research.

Suitable collaborative partners may come from academia, industry, government, infrastructure providers, standards bodies or the wider quantum ecosystem and should help shape, inform or exploit the research outcomes.

Potential end users can extend beyond industry to, for example, policy customers in government departments or arms-length bodies, and third-sector actors such as cancer research, materials, genomics or fintech.

We expect projects with named partners to secure meaningful commitment, with project partners making substantive contributions to the project. These contributions may be in-kind and could include expertise, use cases, facilities, infrastructure, experimental platforms, testbeds, datasets, community access, strategic guidance, identifying knowledge gaps, and supporting routes to adoption. Where relevant, partner involvement should help accelerate the development of a coherent and internationally competitive UK quantum networking research community.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), in collaboration with EPSRC and UKRI, can support introductions to relevant public sector organisations. Please email Quantumtechnologies@epsrc.ukri.org if this is of interest.

Engagement with the UK quantum ecosystem

Engagement with specific organisations is not mandatory. However, you are encouraged to consider how you will engage with UK quantum and wider research ecosystem including relevant research hubs, national facilities, infrastructure, industry partners, end users and other stakeholders where this would strengthen the project and maximise its potential impact.

Engagement may include:

• access to relevant facilities, infrastructure, testbeds and demonstration platforms

• collaboration with researchers, technical specialists and partner organisations

• participation in workshops, networking events and community activities

• access to training, knowledge exchange and skills development opportunities

• opportunities to connect with potential users, adopters and commercial partners

• visits to relevant institutions, facilities and demonstration sites

This could include engagement with organisations such as the Integrated Quantum Networks Hub, other UKRI-funded quantum technology hubs, national laboratories and other relevant parts of the UK’s quantum research and innovation landscape, as appropriate to the project.

Any support or engagement will be subject to the availability of relevant resources and the needs of the project.

Engagement with the Mission 2 Coordination Network

Successful projects funded through this funding opportunity will be required to engage actively with the Mission 2 Coordination Network, which is being established through a concurrent EPSRC funding opportunity aiming to connect researchers, businesses and network operators across the Mission 2 portfolio.

The network will provide a coordination function across Mission 2 investments, helping to align research activities with user and industry needs, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support the integration of outcomes across funded programmes. Successful projects will therefore be expected to participate in relevant network activities and contribute to cross-portfolio collaboration and learning.

Projects should be prepared to work constructively with the Coordination Network and other Mission 2 funded activities, including sharing progress, insights and lessons learned, identifying opportunities for collaboration, and contributing to the development of pathways towards adoption, commercialisation and future deployment. This may include participation in workshops, meetings, showcase events and other community-building activities.

A key objective of the network is to establish effective feedback loops between researchers, businesses and network operators, ensuring that evolving user requirements inform research priorities and that research outcomes are positioned to deliver real-world impact. Active engagement will be an important part of maximising the collective value of Mission 2 investments and accelerating progress towards secure, scalable quantum communications for the UK.

Funding available

The FEC of your project can be up to £2.56 million.

EPSRC will fund 2.05 million (80% of the FEC).

Duration

Projects must be no more than 33 months in duration with a latest start date of 31 May 2027.

Due to the nature of the mission, there will be additional requirements on reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and grant extensions. This will be reflected in the grant additional conditions, and those funded will need to comply with them. Further details are provided in the ‘Additional information’ section.

What we will fund

Resources may be used for research expenses including but not limited to:

• UKRI-funded research facilities. Please note that if you plan to use a major facility in your research, such as those funded centrally by EPSRC, contact the facility before applying to EPSRC to check if your proposed research is feasible, and obtain a technical assessment if the UKRI Funding Service system marks it as required

• a contribution to the salary of the project lead and co-leads

• support for other posts such as research, project management and technical

• research consumables

• travel and subsistence costs

• data preservation, data sharing and dissemination costs

• estates and indirect costs

• other standard expenses

• equipment (up to £400,000 per item), see further guidance and information about equipment costs on research grants

• consumables and smaller items of equipment individually costing less than £25,000

Resources may also be used for activities that initiate, grow, and maintain collaborations with stakeholders (for example academia, business, government, third sector) such as:

• secondments

• staff exchanges

• regular travel

What we will not fund

PhD studentships may not be included in the costs sought from EPSRC.

Supporting skills and talent

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks. Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks.

See further guidance and information about TR&I, including where applicants can find additional support.

Environmental sustainability

UKRI’s environmental sustainability strategy lays out our ambition to actively lead environmental sustainability across our sectors. This includes a vision to ensure that all major investment and funding decisions we make are directly informed by environmental sustainability, recognising environmental benefits as well as potential for environmental harm.

Environmental sustainability is a broad term but may include consideration of such broad areas as:

• reducing carbon emissions

• protecting and enhancing the natural environment and biodiversity

• waste or pollution elimination

• resource efficiency and a circular economy

EPSRC, on behalf of UKRI, expects applications to embed careful consideration of environmental sustainability.

Responsible innovation

You are expected to work within the EPSRC framework for responsible innovation.

Assessment process

In the event of this funding opportunity being substantially oversubscribed as to be unmanageable, we reserve the right to modify the assessment process.

We will assess your application using the following process.

Assessment panel

We will invite panel members to assess your application independently against the assessment criteria for the funding opportunity. Prior to the assessment panel, panel members will be given the opportunity to request a limited set of questions or points for clarification against all or some of the assessment criteria. You will be given two weeks to provide a written response to the questions raised.

At the panel meeting, panel members will score and rank the applications against the assessment criteria using the evidence and information provided in your application, assessor comments and your response to their questions.  The panel will then make a funding recommendation.

For more information on how we prioritise applications for funding please visit How we make decisions

EPSRC will make the final funding decision.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making.

Using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in expert review

Generative AI may be used only for the purpose of language refinement during application assessment. When using generative AI to refine the language of a review, expert reviewers and panellists must ensure that:

• no part of the application being assessed is entered into a generative AI tool

• no personal information from the application is disclosed

• generative AI is not tasked with understanding, summarising or evaluating the application’s content

Expert reviewers and panellists must also:

• comply with relevant intellectual property and data protection legislation

• not take into account or speculate within their assessment whether generative AI has been used to develop the application

For more detail see our policy on the use of generative AI.

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.

Assessment areas

The assessment areas we will use are:

• vision and approach

• applicant and team capability to deliver

• stakeholder engagement

• resources and cost justification

• ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Click here to start an application on the UKRI Funding Service: 

https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1321/apply/1349

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

To apply

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

1. Confirm you are the project lead.

2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password.

3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page.

4. Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.

5. Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.

6. Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

When including images, you must:

• provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit)

• insert each new image onto a new line

• use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include:

• sentences or paragraphs of text

• tables

• excessive quantities of images

A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column.

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service

• how research offices use the Funding Service

• how reviewers use the Funding Service

References

References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to the application.

Hyperlinks can be used in reference information. When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that:

• references are easily identifiable by the assessors

• references are formatted as appropriate to your research

• persistent identifiers are used where possible

General use of hyperlinks

Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information. You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment.

Deadline

EPSRC must receive your application by 24 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time.

Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and submitted applications will not be amended. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected. If an application is withdrawn prior to peer review or office rejected due to substantive errors in the application, it cannot be resubmitted to the opportunity.

Personal data

Processing personal data

EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice.

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email TFSchangeEPSRC@epsrc.ukri.org

Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)

• declaration of interest

• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section

• conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

• the application is an invited resubmission

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice.

Institutional matched funding

There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations. Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged.

This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.

Publication of outcomes

EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at EPSRC Funding Applications Outcomes

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research.

Summary

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information. Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers

• policymakers

• the public

• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• context

• the challenge the project addresses

• aims and objectives

• potential applications and benefits

Core team

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)

• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)

• specialist

• grant manager

• professional enabling staff

• research and innovation associate

• technician

• visiting researcher

• researcher co-lead (RcL)

Only list one individual as project lead.

UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type. Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications.

Application questions

Vision and Approach

Create a document that includes your responses to all criteria. The document should not be more than six sides of A4, single spaced in paper in 11-point Arial (or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm. You may include images, graphs, tables. You can have an additional page for a diagrammatic workplan.

For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘Vision and Approach’.

Save this document as a single PDF file, no bigger than 8MB. Unless specifically requested, please do not include any sensitive personal data within the attachment.

If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected.

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

What are you hoping to achieve with and how will you deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

For the Vision, explain how your proposed work:

• is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s)

• has the potential to advance current understanding, generates new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area

• is timely given current trends, context and needs

• impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment

• recognises and responds to the current industry‑led landscape of quantum network and the future quantum internet

• will make significant progress towards achieving the aims of NQS Mission 2 as outlined in the Scope section of the opportunity

• will generate insights and evidence that can inform future priorities, research directions and delivery approaches within NQS Mission 2, supporting the development of subsequent phases of the mission

For the Approach, explain how you have designed your work so that it:

• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives

• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed

• if applicable, uses a clear and transparent methodology

• complements and builds upon previous and current research

• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts

• describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place, and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work

• operates within the current quantum networking landscape, recognising the roles of industry and academia, as well as the primary customers, end-users, technology developers, network operators and systems integrators involved in the development and adoption of quantum network technologies

References may be included within this section.

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work

• the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work

• the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others

• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

The word count for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI. You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge

• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships

• contributions to the wider research and innovation community

• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

Additions

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

References may be included within this section.

The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Stakeholder engagement

Word limit: 1,200

How will you actively engage with relevant stakeholders on an ongoing basis throughout the project to ensure that it appropriately meets their needs and delivers the anticipated benefits?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

You should provide evidence for how you will:

• demonstrate an understanding of the relevant user, industry and innovation landscape, including the needs, opportunities and barriers associated with the future adoption, deployment or exploitation of the research

• develop relationships with identified partners, collaborators and other beneficiaries of your project

• engage with the Coordination Network and the wider Mission 2 relevant community, as appropriate

• foster genuine and committed two-way engagement with relevant stakeholders, such that they can shape or co-deliver the project to ensure that benefits are delivered

• incorporate learning and feedback from stakeholders into the project on an ongoing basis to ensure the research remains relevant and responsive to evolving user, market and technology needs

• disseminate and communicate the outputs of your project, including access to potential future investments

• manage any intellectual assets and intellectual property, including an intellectual property (IP) management and exploitation plan, and protection of foreground IP and market position

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

References may be included within this section.

Project partners

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include

• direct contributions for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project

• indirect and in-kind contributions for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities

Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.

Add the following project partner details:

• the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)

• the project partner contact name and email address

• the type of contribution (direct or indirect) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Project partners: letters (or emails) of support

Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the ‘Project partners’ section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter N/A. Each letter or email you provide should:

• confirm the partner’s commitment to the project

• clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them

• describe any additional value that they bring to the project

• the page limit is two sides A4 per partner

The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the ‘Project partners’ section.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Do not provide letters of support from host and project co-leads’ research organisations.

Facilities

Word limit: 250

Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

If you will need to use a facility, follow your proposed facility’s normal access request procedures. Ensure you have prior agreement so that if you are offered funding, they will support the use of their facility on your project.

For each requested facility you will need to provide the:

• name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 43KB)

• proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list

• confirmation you have their agreement where required

Facilities should only be named if they are on the facility information list above

If you will not need to use a facility, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service.

Data management and sharing

Word limit: 250

How will you manage and share data collected or acquired through the proposed research?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Provide a data management plan that clearly details how you will comply with UKRI’s published data sharing policy, which includes detailed guidance notes.

Resources and cost justification

Word limit: 1,000

What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular:

• project staff

• significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences)

• any equipment that will cost more than £25,000

• any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities

• all facilities and infrastructure costs

• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’

You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project. For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders. Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount.

Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources. Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work:

• are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified

• represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes

• maximise potential outcomes and impacts

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

What are the ethical and RRI considerations, implications and issues relating to the proposed work?  If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project

• the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, whilst minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm

• how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project

If you are collecting or using data you should identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further re-use of data)

• formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with

Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving:

• animals

• human participants

• genetically modified organisms

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the Funding Service.

Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation.

Animal involvement and “3Rs”

You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.

If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what animals you are involving

• the severity of the procedures you are using

• where the procedures will take place

• welfare standards you aim to meet

• the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs

You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions. You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section.

To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals.

What counts as an animal

UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.

Genetically modified organisms and biological risk

You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies.

If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include

• the intended use of the organism or genetic technology

• the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies.

Human participation in health-related research

You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.

If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.

You may be asked about:

• what type of human participation your project includes

• the project design for human participation

• the phase of the clinical trial

• whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so, how the project will be registered

• whether diversity and inclusion will be considered

For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I)

Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation.

Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation. They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.

You will be asked about:

• which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to

• who you intend to collaborate with and how

• if your project requires an export control licence

Your answers may affect the T&Cs of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.

Background

This funding opportunity forms part of the UK Government’s £2 billion investment announced in March 2026, including a £1 billion allocation for quantum technologies under the UK Modern Industrial Strategy. It aims to strengthen the UK’s leadership in quantum technologies by building national capability across research, skills, infrastructure, and innovation, supporting long‑term economic and societal benefits across healthcare, security, energy, and industry.

The UK is a world‑leading nation in quantum technologies, ranking third globally for the quality and impact of its quantum research and hosting more quantum start‑ups than any other country in Europe.

Over the past decade, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has invested significantly in the UK’s quantum technologies ecosystem, supporting national assets such as the Quantum Technology Hubs and fostering a strong research and innovation base across quantum communications, networking and enabling technologies.

This funding opportunity seeks to contribute to Mission 2 of the National Quantum Strategy to deploy the world’s most advanced quantum network at scale by 2035, pioneering the future quantum internet. It will support the development, integration and exploitation of quantum networking technologies, including quantum communications, quantum network infrastructure, distributed quantum computing, secure quantum information transfer and enabling component technologies. The funding opportunity aims to accelerate commercialisation, strengthen UK capability across academia and industry, enable nationwide and international connectivity, and support the long-term development of a scalable quantum internet.

Achieving this ambition will require advances across quantum communications, networking technologies, photonics, quantum memories, distributed quantum systems and entanglement-based networking. Research is needed to develop the components, systems and architectures required for secure, scalable and resilient quantum networks spanning local, regional and national scales, while supporting future international connectivity and laying the foundations for the quantum internet. Particular challenges include the integration of quantum networking technologies with existing classical communications infrastructure and the development of enabling technologies needed to support future deployment and adoption.

The scope of this funding opportunity has been informed by engagement with the UK quantum networking community, including the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) Quantum Networks Roadmap developed by Frazer-Nash on behalf of DSIT. Drawing on input from academia, industry and government, this engagement identified key research challenges and technology priorities relevant to the delivery of Mission 2.

Led by EPSRC, this funding opportunity will support ambitious research that addresses these challenges and accelerates progress towards the objectives of Mission 2.

Research and innovation impact

Impact can be defined as the long-term intended or unintended effect research and innovation has on society, economy and the environment; to individuals, organisations, and the wider global population.

Supporting documents

Equality Impact Assessment (PDF, 148KB)

Grant additional conditions

Monitoring and reporting

In addition to the requirements set out in the standard UKRI grant condition RGC 7.4.3, successful projects will be required to provide progress updates when requested by UKRI. This reporting will likely be an annual requirement, but expectations will be clarified when awards are made.

Extensions

Notwithstanding UKRI Standard Term and Condition RGC 6, extensions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis and will require Our agreement.

Fixed start date

Notwithstanding RGC 5.2 Starting Procedures, this grant has a fixed start date of 31 May 2027. No slippage of this date will be permitted. Expenditure may be incurred prior to the start of the grant and be subsequently charged to the grant, provided that it does not precede the date of the offer letter.

Related opportunities

• NQS Mission 2 Coordination Network

This funding opportunity is part of:

• Quantum technologies theme

Get help with your application

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

The helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility, content or remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

Contact details

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 related to this specific funding opportunity please contact quantumtechnologies@epsrc.ukri.org

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: support@funding-service.ukri.org

Phone: 01793 547490

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For further information on submitting an application read How applicants use the Funding Service.