Managed External Calls

Please circulate throughout your networks as appropriate and direct any queries to researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk unless stated otherwise.

Innovate UK Medicines Manufacturing Data Institute - internal deadline midday 22 September

Innovate invites proposals for Medicines Manufacturing Data Institute: Phase 1 (deadline 14/10, 11am). This call is demand managed, and Imperial can only submit one application if we wish to participate. An internal demand management process has therefore been implemented by the Research Strategy team. Anyone interested in leading an application must submit the IUK MMDI Internal Outline application (docx) and submit to researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by midday 22/9 for review.

UKSA International Bilateral Fund (Call 3) - internal deadline midday 28 September

Queries about the call should be directed to Professor Jonathan Eastwood

The UK Space Agency invites proposals for projects through the International Bilateral Fund (IBF) that will help strengthen the UK space sector’s international partnerships. UK Space Agency has taken the decision to restrict the number of applications to one per lead organisation, so an internal process has been put in place by the Research Strategy team. 

UKSA has an optional EOI submission on 14 September and we have asked them to share any interest submitted through this route as well as running the process described below.

Interested individuals should complete the UKSA IBF Internal Outline application (docx) and submit to researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by midday 28 September. Applications will be reviewed and decisions communicated in early October to allow sufficient time for the single lead bid to be developed before the funder deadline on 4 November.

Advancing innovation in accelerated cancer diagnostics - internal deadline 30 September

Innovate has released its call for Advancing innovation in accelerated cancer diagnosis, for grants £1.5M-£4M (deadline 28/10). An academic institution may lead on multiple applications, provided that a single department within that academic institution is only leading on one application. There is also an implied limit of two collaborating applications if the department is leading a proposal (if not leading, there is no cap on collaborations).

Departments are asked to run an internal process to ensure that, if participating, only one application is submitted with their staff as lead and any collaborating applications are recorded to ensure demand management requirements are met. Departments should confirm with researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk by 30 September if there are any applications being submitted either as lead or a collaborator for central oversight. 

MRC Mid range Equipment - internal deadline 14 September

MRC has released their Equip call, for mid-range equipment £200K-£1M that will enable and enhance research across MRC’s scientific areas (MRC will fund 100% FEC). Imperial is permitted to submit 5 applications, so a demand management process will be managed by the Research Strategy team. 

Applications to the internal selection process must come via the Project Lead’s department (HoD or DOO or delegate). Departments are asked to submit a ranked list of the applications they would be willing to support. By submitting the list, the department confirms that there is space for the equipment and the application has department approval. Receiving a full ranked list of any supported applications also allows us to assess wider need in case there are other opportunities to support/MRC asks for reserve lists, and in case there are opportunities for bigger joint bids for similar equipment.

Applications must consist of a single piece of capital equipment, although this can include equipment that requires assembly or involves several components (not necessarily physically linked) provided they constitute a single technology platform. If an application comprises several components that could constitute a platform, it is important to approach MRC for permission ( ca@mrc.ukri.org) as detailed on the website and provide a copy of this approval with the application to the internal process.

Please direct any queries to researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk unless stated otherwise.

AXA Chair and Fellowship

There is one opportunity a year to put someone forward for an AXA Chair or Fellowship position (note Fellowship calls are for specific research areas). Imperial is only permitted to submit one candidate per call, and the process is managed centrally. More information about these opportunities can be found on the AXA website.

AXA Chair

2026 call CLOSED. Internal deadline midday 26 March 2026

AXA Postdoctoral Fellowship ("New Gen" Program)

2026 call expected Autumn 2026.

EPSRC Strategic Infrastructure Outlines

EPSRC have relaunched their strategic infrastructure call. Imperial is permitted to submit 3 applications per "batching period". Confirmed periods are:

• Batching period 1: September 2026 to end of December 2026
• Batching period 2: January 2027 to end of April 2027

Call overview

Funding is for either:

• purchase and set-up of infrastructure
• resources to support existing infrastructure

The full economic cost (FEC) of your infrastructure must be at least £400,000 (inc. VAT).

Resource-only applications must have a maximum duration of two years.

Internal process

Interested parties should complete the EPSRC Strategic Infrastructure Outline Proforma (docx).

The completed form should be submitted to researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk, outlines will be considered at Imperial’s Research Advisory Group (RAG).

Outlines will be considered as per the following timetable (to be updated for future batch periods when these are confirmed by EPSRC). Additional assessment dates may be added if the limit for any particular batch period is not met.

Applications should be submitted to EPSRC by the end of the relevant batching period. Any approved bids not submitted by the end of the batching period will need to be resubmitted to the internal process for consideration in the next period. 

Below are the calls that have been pre-announced and are expected to need management. A process for these calls will be announced as soon as possible.

Leverhulme Research Centres

Leverhulme preannounced its Research Centres call. The call will open in February 2027 with a deadline of June 2027, and Imperial is allowed to submit one application as lead (although can partner on an unlimited number of proposals led by other universities).  An internal selection process will be launched around December 2026.

British Academy International Fellowships

The British Academy’s International Fellowships are a flagship opportunity for early career researchers anywhere in the world to come to the UK for two years to pursue their research in any area of the humanities and social sciences. The 2027 round of International Fellowships will see institutional demand management put in place of eight applications per institution. It is expected that the next call for the International Fellowships will open in early- to mid January 2027, and close in early- to mid- March 2027. An internal selection process will be launched around December 2026.

AHRC Design Generators Round 2

Imperial is permitted one application as lead and one as co-lead. Selection was ratified by RAG on 4 September. Funder deadline 29 September 2026

STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowships

Internal selection complete July 2026, funder deadline 30 September 2026. More details on the managed fellowships page

BBSRC Early Independence Fellowships

Imperial was permitted to submit two applications. Selection was made in July 2026, funder deadline 3 September 2026.

Please circulate throughout your networks as appropriate and direct any queries to researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk unless stated otherwise.

Doctoral Focal award: EPSRC and MHCLG Fire Engineering Skills Hub

EPSRC and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have launched a call to fund a skills hub to deliver high quality, cohort based doctoral training, and design of high-quality postgraduate level taught programmes in fire engineering. Institutions have been invited to lead on 1 bid only.  Focal award: EPSRC and MHCLG Fire Engineering Skills Hub – UKRI

In light of the focused nature of this opportunity, we are launching a light-touch call for interest. 

1. Monday 14 September 12pm noon [INTERNAL DEADLINE]: Internal interest submitted to researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk
1. Applicant name
2. 1-2 sentences to describe expertise and/or input to a proposed program

Once interest has been received, all respondents will be connected to discuss and agree the proposed institutional response to this opportunity and the nominated institutional lead.  It is anticipated that those who are keen in this call will work together to agree the leadership structure and prepare the bid

Any questions about the internal process, please contact (researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk).  Queries about this specific funding opportunity can be directed to EPSRC (TeamEngineering@epsrc.ukri.org)

 UKRI Doctoral Focal Award: Venture Doctorates

UKRI has launched the UKRI DFA Venture Doctorates funding opportunity. Institutions may submit only one lead application; as such, an internal process is being conducted to develop Imperial's institutional proposal. The institutional proposal is being coordinated by the Imperial Enterprise team and the Faculty Associate Deans for Enterprise, under the leadership Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) Mary Ryan.  Those who are interested in contributing to the institutional proposal are invited to use the attached form. Completed forms must be submitted to researchstrategy@imperial.ac.uk (attention Suzanne Husein) by noon Friday 21^st August. Submitted outlines will inform discussions regarding the content and scope of the institutional proposal.

UKRI webinars

UKRI will be hosting a series of webinars to provide more information about the funding opportunity. These will take place on 20 August (3.00-4.00pm), 26 August (10.00-11.00am) and 10 September (2.00-3.00pm). Further details, including the registration process, can be found on the outline call pages

2026/2027 Apple Scholars in AI/ML PhD fellowship program 

Apple has launched the 2026/2027 Apple Scholars in AI/ML PhD fellowship program to recognize and support PhD students in computer science and engineering who are pursuing cutting edge research in artificial intelligence and machine learning. A number of universities, including Imperial, have been invited to submit three students for this program. As such, an internal selection process has been established to identify the Imperial nominees.