Call Open- closing 9 November 2026
Early Career Research Fund
The fund is designed to help individuals develop as Early Career Researchers and to help develop the science, engineering and technology to deliver Offshore Renewable Energy. It supports small activities that either develop your existing research activities or develop your skills further.
Applications should be directed at offshore wind, wave or tidal energy research and should be aligned with the objectives of the Supergen ORE Hub, further details of which can be found here. Multi-disciplinary or multi-sectoral proposals are welcome.
The maximum award size will be:
- £5,000 total per applicant
- Comprising £4000 award (at 80% FEC, direct costs only)
- Plus £1000 contribution from applicant's institution
Examples of What the Fund Can Support
This is a non-exhaustive list and innovative applications are welcomed.
A discrete research activity, possibly seed funding leading to a new, more substantial proposal, including a research Fellowship application, or seed funding to develop a new collaboration with industrial partners.
Travel for a national or international collaboration.
Small equipment/consumables.
An industrial internship or public service secondment.
Awards to support a return from a career break.
Public awareness engagement activities and support for developing outreach events are particularly welcome.
Download the Call Document
Includes assessment criteria and how to apply
Time Line
The deadline for submission of applications is noon (GMT) on Monday 9th November 2026.
The scheme coordinator will undertake the peer review and ranking process, leading to funding decisions. Funding decisions will be made within 3 weeks of the proposal deadline, with award announcements made on or before Friday 27th November 2026.
The proposed activity must be completed within 6 months of commencement.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for this fund is limited to Early Career Researchers (ECRs) who are either:
Early Career Academic Staff (less than 3 years from first academic appointment),
Post-Doctoral Research Assistants.
PhD students are not eligible
Whilst the wider Hub Early Career Network welcomes final year PhD students, support for PhD student research activities should be delivered by host institutions or Centres of Doctoral Training (CDTs) as appropriate.
Industry participants - joint applications
The wider network also welcomes industry-based early career professionals. However, due to funding limitations, industry professionals are not eligible to apply as sole applicants but are strongly encouraged as co-applicants.
Joint applications that bring together university-based early career researchers and industry professionals (at any career stage) are welcomed. The lead applicant must be a university-based ECR. Industry-based professionals cannot receive funding, even in joint applications. Instead, they are encouraged to seek appropriate support from their organisation to contribute to the project highlighting access to emerging research and the opportunity to collaborate on research that directly addresses a need within the organisation.
Further eligibility details
ECRs should be employed by an organisation that is eligible to receive EPSRC funding. A list of organisations eligible to apply to EPSRC is provided at: https://www.ukri.org/apply-for-funding/before-you-apply/
The proposed activity must not extend beyond the ECR’s current employment (unless the requested funding does itself extend that employment).
Due to the multiple rounds of ECR Research Funding, only in exceptional circumstances will ECR applicants receive more than one award.
Joint applications from a maximum of two ECRs are welcomed where the inclusion of more than one ECR is justified with respect to the scheme objectives and the assessment criteria outlined below. The award limit will be raised in accordance with the number of ECRs making the joint application.
