NQS Mission 2 Coordination Network (Grant)

This funding 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 resubmissions 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, 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, Mission 2 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 establish a Mission 2 Coordination Network that brings together researchers, industry, network operators, policymakers, infrastructure providers and other stakeholders across the quantum and classical networking and communications landscapes.

The network will strengthen coordination across the Mission 2 portfolio, foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, identify shared challenges and opportunities, and support the development of a coherent, connected and internationally competitive UK community.

he network should demonstrate how it will:

• enhance connectivity across the ecosystem

• support the translation and uptake of research outcomes

• inform future research and innovation priorities

• contribute to the long-term objectives of Mission 2

You should consider how you will engage stakeholders across academia, industry, government and the wider quantum ecosystem to maximise the impact and value of Mission 2 investments.

Scope

This funding opportunity, led by EPSRC, will support a Coordination Network that acts as a focal point for the UK quantum networking and communications community.

The network will provide leadership and coordination across the Mission 2 landscape, complement existing investments, and strengthen connections between academia, industry, policymakers, infrastructure providers, network operators and end users.

Through community-building, knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement activities, the network should strengthen connections between research, industry, infrastructure providers, policymakers and end users. It should identify shared challenges and emerging opportunities, facilitate collaboration, promote the uptake of research outcomes, and help shape future research and innovation priorities relevant to Mission 2.

The network is expected to foster a coherent, sustainable and internationally competitive UK quantum networking and communications ecosystem that supports the long-term ambitions of Mission 2.

We are looking to fund a network that will:

• coordinate and connect stakeholders across the UK quantum networking and communications landscape, as well as relevant sectors to include (but not limited to) photonics and classical networking and communications landscape

• strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia, industry, government, network operators and end users

• support engagement between Mission 2 research projects and relevant industrial, governmental and user communities, including Innovate UK supported testbeds and demonstration activities

• facilitate the exchange of expertise, best practice and lessons learned across the portfolio

• identify shared research challenges, capability gaps and future opportunities relevant to Mission 2

• help align research activities with evolving user, market and technology needs

• promote engagement with quantum networking and communications testbeds, demonstrators and other translational infrastructure, helping to connect research, innovation, users and deployment communities and accelerate pathways towards real-world adoption

• support skills development, community building and the growth of future research and innovation capacity

• identify opportunities for future collaborative research, innovation and investment

• strengthen UK leadership and visibility in quantum networking and communications nationally and internationally

This is not an exhaustive list. You are encouraged to propose innovative approaches to community coordination, stakeholder engagement and ecosystem development that will contribute to the aims and successful delivery of Mission 2.

End-user involvement

The network must be academic-led and co-created with end users and key stakeholders across the quantum networking and communications ecosystem. You must demonstrate how end users will be actively involved in shaping the network’s priorities, activities and outputs throughout its lifetime.

You are expected to engage stakeholders from academia, industry, government, network operators, infrastructure providers, standards bodies and the wider quantum technologies ecosystem. End users should be represented as active partners in the network and contribute to identifying priorities, challenges, opportunities and routes to impact.

You should demonstrate how the network will engage with organisations and communities that can help shape research and innovation priorities, identify emerging challenges and opportunities, accelerate knowledge exchange, and support the future adoption and exploitation of quantum networking and communications technologies.

Relevant stakeholders and end users may include industrial organisations, technology developers, telecommunications providers, policymakers, regulators, government departments, public sector organisations, investors, standards organisations, infrastructure providers and current or potential users of quantum networking technologies.

We expect networks with named partners to demonstrate meaningful commitment and engagement from those partners, including appropriate in-kind contributions such as expertise, facilities, infrastructure, testbeds, datasets, community access, use cases or strategic advice.

Stakeholders and end users should contribute insights, requirements, use cases, technical expertise, infrastructure access and perspectives on future needs to help inform research and innovation priorities, strengthen coordination across the Mission 2 portfolio, and support pathways towards future adoption and impact.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, 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

While engagement with any specific organisation is not mandatory, you must demonstrate how the network will actively engage with the wider UK quantum ecosystem throughout its lifetime. This should include engagement with relevant research hubs, research organisations, industry, end users, national facilities, infrastructure providers and other stakeholders necessary to deliver the objectives of the network and maximise its impact.

Engagement may include:

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

• engagement with organisations that can provide strategic insight into future research, innovation and adoption opportunities

• access to training, skills development and knowledge exchange opportunities

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

• visits to relevant institutions, facilities and demonstration sites

This should 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, where appropriate.

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

Engagement with Mission 2 research projects

The successful Coordination Network funded through this funding opportunity will be expected to engage actively with the Mission 2 research projects funded by EPSRC, UKRI and UK National Quantum Technologies Programme partners. The network will act as a coordinating and convening mechanism across the Mission 2 portfolio, connecting researchers with industry, network operators, policymakers and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange and the translation of research outcomes.

The network will provide a coordination function across Mission 2 investments, helping to identify shared research challenges and opportunities, align research activities with emerging user and industry needs, facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise, and support greater coherence across the portfolio. The network should complement and enhance the activities of funded research projects, rather than duplicate them.

The Coordination Network will be expected to:

• create opportunities for Mission 2 funded researchers to share progress, insights and lessons learned

• identify opportunities for collaboration across projects, disciplines, institutions and sectors

• facilitate engagement between research projects and relevant industrial, governmental and user communities

• support the development of future research, innovation and translation opportunities arising from the portfolio

• provide mechanisms through which industry and user needs can help inform future research and innovation directions

Through these activities, the network will help build a more connected and coordinated UK quantum networking and communications research community, maximise the collective value of Mission 2 investments, identify opportunities for future collaborative research and innovation, and strengthen the UK’s long-term capability and leadership in quantum networking and communications.

Funding available

The FEC of your project can be up to £630,937.

EPSRC will fund £504,750 (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

We will fund:

• project lead and co-lead’s salaries

• community building and networking activities

• travel and subsistence

• relevant non-academic staff, including a network manager, as appropriate

• specific staff to support the network

Project lead and co-lead’s salaries

These should be requested under the directly allocated cost heading. The project lead (PL) and project co-leads (PcL) can request funds to cover their salary costs for the time spent on setting up and leading the network.

Requests can also be made, if appropriate, for co-lead(s) to assist in the management of the network.

Directly incurred costs

Funding requested under the ‘Directly Incurred Cost’ heading may include the following.

Community building and networking activities

This may include funding for:

• activities to identify and disseminate key research challenges in the area, such as horizon-scanning and road mapping studies

• activities to facilitate impact and advance policy, such as reports, websites and briefings

• activities to connect users, industry and other stakeholders with the research base

• networking events

• expert working groups

• workshops, webinars and sandpits

• online discussion forums

• lectures and seminars

• problem-solving workshops

• staff training

• other activities as appropriate for the Network

Travel and subsistence

Travel and subsistence enabling the core team to deliver initial activities and members of the network to meet to exchange ideas and expertise. This may include:

• travel within the UK

• international travel where appropriate and justified

Where possible, collaborators should meet their own travel costs.

Travel should be costed as standard or economy as per our standard terms and conditions, unless there is a need for a reasonable adjustment.

Professional enabling staff

A sufficient level of administrative support should be requested to ensure the coordination, management, and smooth running of the network.

You are expected to employ a dedicated grant manager as a core member of the team, with relevant experience and costed at the appropriate grade.

Reasonable costs for monitoring and dissemination of the network’s output can also be included.

If justified by your planned activities, you may include costs for additional professional enabling staff, for example, facilitators, science communicators, industrial liaisons, coordinators, administrators, technology transfer officers, commercialisation experts, engagement experts or impact staff.

Resources should be requested in accordance with standard EPSRC funding criteria.

What we will not fund

We will not fund:

• PL or PcL positions outside of UKRI current research organisation eligibility

• support for equipment over £25,000 in value (inclusive of VAT) is not available through this funding opportunity. Smaller items of equipment (individually under £25,000) should be in the ‘Directly Incurred – Other Costs’ heading

• 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

• national importance

• governance

• applicant and team capability to deliver

• 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/OPP1330/apply/1356

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

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 eight 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

• constitutes a network model, as opposed to other award types

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

Within the Vision section we also expect you to:

• describe the concept, context and coordination function of your project

• articulate the long-term outcomes and benefits the network will deliver for Mission 2 and the wider UK quantum ecosystem

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

• uses a clear and transparent methodology (if applicable)

• summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed (if applicable)

• maximises translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts

• will undertake community and stakeholder engagement, ensuring wide participation, co-creation and meaningful end user involvement throughout the network activities

• demonstrates your plans for managing and sustaining the partnership beyond the lifetime of the award, your plan should include how stakeholders will work together, network, build capability and develop a long-term vision for the network, along with opportunities for follow-on funding and future collaborative research

• leverages the research environment, facilities, infrastructure, equipment and professional support available to deliver the network’s objectives

• will build EDI considerations into the formation, operation and governance of the network, including how these will be operationalised

Within the Approach section we also expect you to demonstrate how you have designed your work so that it aligns strategically with the aims and scope of the funding opportunity by:

• creating a coordinated community that addresses fragmented activity across sectors relevant to the quantum networking landscape bringing together expertise spanning (but not limited to) quantum hardware, photonics, communications infrastructure, networking protocols, software, standards, cybersecurity, systems integration and end-user applications

• engaging widely across academia, industry, government, international partners and the wider UK quantum ecosystem, including relevant UKRI-funded projects and National Quantum Technologies Programme partners, to foster an inclusive, multidisciplinary and cross-sector community that accelerates knowledge exchange, collaboration, innovation and coordination across Mission 2 activities

• strengthening coordination between research, industry and public sector stakeholders to identify opportunities for technology translation, supply chain development, standards leadership and the development of sustainable UK capabilities in quantum networking and communications technologiesYou 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.

National importance

Word limit: 300

What is the national importance of your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Demonstrate the national importance of your project, including how it:

• builds a clear, evidence-based understanding of UK strengths, gaps and opportunities in quantum networking and communications technologies, including where the UK could or should be leading, collaborating or building capability

• aligns with UK strategic priorities for quantum technologies, supports innovation, economic growth and emerging industries, enables future quantum-enabled services and applications, addresses societal challenges, and strengthens the wider UK quantum ecosystem

• addresses UK resilience, sustainability and national security within the quantum networking and communications landscape

References may be included within this section.

Governance

Word limit: 500

How will you manage the award to successfully deliver its objectives?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how the proposed award will be managed, demonstrating that it:

• will be effectively governed, including details about advisory structures

• will be effectively and inclusively managed, demonstrated by a clear management plan

• has clear leadership team roles and responsibilities

• will manage and encourage partnerships with non-HEI organisations across government, industry and civil society

• has plans for monitoring your progress as well as self-evaluation throughout the lifetime of your award

• will put in place appropriate governance and administration to deliver the range of devolved activities

• has equality, diversity and inclusion embedded in plans for convening and engaging with their community and the allocation of the awarded funds

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

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

The word limit for this section is 1,650 words, 1,150 words to be used for Resume for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules 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 to 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 below. 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).

You should complete this section as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

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

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, or 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.

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

• all facilities and infrastructure costs

• all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’

• International collaboration costs

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

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.

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 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. The investment aims to strengthen UK leadership in quantum technologies by building capability across research, skills, infrastructure and innovation, delivering long-term economic and societal benefits across healthcare, security, energy and industry.

The UK has established a strong international position in quantum technologies through sustained public investment and a vibrant research and innovation ecosystem. Over the past decade, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has supported major national capabilities, including the Quantum Technology Hubs, helping to build a strong research and innovation base across quantum communications, networking and enabling technologies.

This investment builds on more than a decade of activity delivered through the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme, a partnership between government, academia and industry that has supported the translation of quantum science into new products, services, infrastructure, skilled jobs and economic growth.

This funding opportunity contributes to Mission 2 of the National Quantum Strategy, which aims to establish the UK as a world leader in quantum networking and communications by deploying advanced quantum networks at scale by 2035 and laying the foundations for future quantum internet applications. Through supporting the development and exploitation of quantum networking technologies and capabilities, the funding opportunity will help strengthen UK research and innovation capacity, accelerate commercialisation, promote national and international connectivity, and support the long-term development of a scalable quantum internet.

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.

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.

Supporting documents

Equality Impact Assessment (PDF, 145KB)

Related content

• UKRI policies and standards

• EPSRC policies and standards

• National quantum strategy

• National Quantum Strategy Missions

• Quantum technologies theme

• NQTP | UK National Quantum Technologies Programme

Related opportunities

• NQS Mission 2: Components, systems and architectures

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

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