Manufacturing Scale-up Research and Innovation: Automotive and Aerospace

Full Job Description

Opportunity status: Upcoming

Funders:

UK Research and Innovation

Funding type: Grant

Total fund: £17,600,000

Publication date: 8 October 2026

Opening date:

14 October 2026 9:00am UK time

Closing date:

9 December 2026 4:00pm UK time

Apply for funding to address manufacturing scale-up challenges for new technologies and processes, accelerating innovation and driving UK business growth in the automotive and aerospace sectors.

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding.

The full economic cost (FEC) of your project for large grants can be between £4.5 million and £5.8 million up to four years duration, small grants up to £600,000 up to two years duration. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

To apply your research organisation must complete the Intent to submit survey by 11 November 2026 – see What we are looking for section.

Eligibility

This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility, and organisations who are based overseas. Check if your organisation is eligible.

UKRI individual eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit UKRI’s eligibility page.

Resubmissions

We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI. Find out more about UKRI’s resubmission 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, 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

This funding opportunity is part of the UKRI IS8+ Priority Programme for Advanced Manufacturing.

The aim of this funding opportunity is to support research projects that will convert world-class research into repeatable, cost-effective and flexible manufacturing capabilities, delivering tangible impact for UK industry, accelerating innovation and enabling business growth.

For companies to scale and grow they must produce and incorporate new technologies and processes at scale and pace. Projects supported through this funding opportunity will research how to overcome technical challenges and barriers to enable UK businesses to scale up and implement the manufacture of new technologies and embed new processes that will enable UK industry ‘to win’ in internationally ambitious markets.

It is not the aim of this funding opportunity to develop new technologies or products; it is to scale up the production of recently developed new technologies or processes.

Successful scaling requires an integrated approach spanning materials, processes, systems and manufacturing. Success depends on bridging the lab-to-factory gap, embedding digital tools, cutting edge process technologies and designing technologies for manufacturability, flexibility, and sustainability from the outset. Broader manufacturing system integration issues must be addressed including successful routes into and integration with supply chains to ensure outcomes are adopted by industry.

This funding opportunity seeks to support projects that target real industrial barriers and create a seamless pathway from research to production to bridge the ‘industrialisation gap’, enabling the UK to move from world-leading discovery to world-leading manufacturing at scale.

To aid this, applications must show that they have access to industrial scale manufacturing environments to ensure real world applicability, either in the research environment or in a company. The industry project partners must be central to the framing of the research challenge as well as in the application of the research outputs. This must be evidenced with appropriate letters of support. All applications must have matched funding committed by project partners from the beginning.

Applications must state the national, regional and local implications of their research on UK industry.

The UK has set ambitious manufacturing growth targets across frontier industries. Achieving these and other UK growth ambition will require the rapid, large-scale deployment of new technologies, digital, materials and manufacturing processes within an intensely competitive global landscape. This funding opportunity focuses on two of the frontier industries; Aerospace and Automotive.

Leverage And Industry Engagement

On 30 October 2025, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) published more detail on its plans to allocate its budget for the SR period. Including a new more agile model, and set out three research and development priorities supporting:

• curiosity-driven, foundational research

• strategic government and societal priorities

• innovative companies

As part of this directive at portfolio level, investments must target an average leverage ratio of at least £3 of private investment for every £1 of public investment, with higher ratios when investing to support innovative companies, supporting increasing long-term benefits to society.

We therefore expect, at application, a leverage ratio in the order of 1:1, that is, matching non-public money to UKRI money. Additionally, your application must include a credible and realistic plan for unlocking additional leverage of non-public money over the lifetime of the grant contributing towards the 3:1 overall portfolio target.

The plan must also include provision for how the grant will lead to further activity beyond the grant to develop the work further and bring in further support.

Scope

The aerospace and automotive sectors are in remit of this funding opportunity. Proposals must address the scale up challenges faced by one or both of these sectors.

The UK’s ambitions in aerospace and automotive depend on overcoming shared challenges in translating innovation into high-volume/bespoke, cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing. Key research priorities in applications will focus on bridging the gap between discovery and industrial scale production, improving productivity, de-risking large capital projects and ensuring global competitiveness.

Aerospace

Demand for high-rate, low-cost, sustainable production of complex, safety-critical components with faster certification have been identified as key areas by the sector. Specific needs include, but are not limited to:

• scalable additive manufacturing and advanced composites processing

• robotics and AI-enabled automated assembly in smart factories

• materials with improved manufacturability and rapid qualification

• multiphysics simulation and AI-driven design to shorten certification timelines

Automotive

Achieving high-volume production and transition to electrification and connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) requires industrialisation of fast emerging technologies and closing the technology readiness level (TRL) and manufacturing readiness level (MRL) gap. Sector identified challenges include, but are not limited to:

• robust, high-yield manufacturing processes and cost optimisation

• digital manufacturing (AI, digital twins, integrated data systems)

• scalable production of electrified propulsion systems, motors, power electronics)

• whole-system integration and design for manufacturability

Applications could also consider the following cross-cutting challenges:

• flexible manufacturing systems to avoid obsolescence and enable modular upgrades

• advanced automation, including robotics and human–robot collaboration

• end-to-end digitalisation, digital thread integration and sector transferable data management frameworks

• deployment of sensors and measurement methods in multi-environments to support new features and scale up

• low-carbon, resource-efficient manufacturing aligned with net zero goals

• alignment through whole UK supply chain to enable end product on time delivery at quantity, quality and cost point

This list is not exhaustive, and applicants are encouraged to develop innovative approaches that respond to the needs of the automotive and aerospace sector scale-up challenges.

A separate funding opportunity for a coordination body or Network Plus will be running in parallel with this funding opportunity: Manufacturing Scale-up Network Plus. Successful application to this funding opportunity will be required to fully engage with the Network Plus once it is set up.

Details of the Manufacturing Scale-up Network Plus funding opportunity can be found in the ‘Related opportunities’ section.

Duration

To reflect the breadth of the possible challenges we are seeking applications for large projects of up to four years duration (£4.5 million to £5.8 million FEC) and smaller projects of up to two years duration (up to £600,000 FEC). It is our intent to fund up to two large projects and up to ten small projects, subject to peer review.

The duration of projects should be appropriate to the particular scale up challenge being considered including the pace at which the research findings will need to be deployed.

Awards made via this funding opportunity will have a start date of 1 September 2027 or earlier.

Funding Available

The FEC of your project can be between £4.5 million and £5.8 million for up to four years duration for large projects, and up to £600,000 for the smaller projects that can be for up to two years in duration.

UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC.

What We Will Fund

Requested funds from UKRI may include:

• staff costs

• costs related to impact

• travel and subsistence

• small items of equipment under £25,000 per item and other items required to carry out the project

• equipment between £25,000 and £400,000 per item

Quotes for equipment do not need to be included in your application, but please retain quotes for equipment costing more than £138,000 as we may ask for these at post-panel stage before releasing funds. For details of how to include equipment in your application see Equipment on research grants.

What We Will Not Fund

We will not fund research into new technology or products as this funding opportunity is for driving the scale up of manufacturing of newly developed technologies and processes. We will not fund applications that fall outside the remit of this funding opportunity, or applications that do not have the required industrial participation.

Any manufacturing process research must be targeted at those processes that drive the scale up of production from lab scale to factory scale.

Advisory Board Membership And Operations

The large projects funded through this funding opportunity must establish and run an independent advisory board, or equivalent body, to oversee the running of the project and provide advice on the strategic direction and activities of the project. The terms of reference and membership of this group (at least 50% independent membership and an independent chair) should be agreed with UKRI.

The UKRI project officer will also be expected to attend and participate in advisory board and other appropriate meetings for the duration of the grant.

It is expected the first advisory board meeting will be held within four months of the start date of the project and there will be two meetings a year with contact outside of the meeting when appropriate.

Publicity And Branding

You must make reference to UKRI and include the UKRI and relevant branding on all online or printed materials (including press releases, posters, exhibition materials and other publications) related to activities funded a successful grant.

Monitoring, Evaluation And Progress Reports

As this funding is through the IS8 Advanced Manufacturing Priority (AMP) Programme the recipients of grants will need to comply with AMP Programme specific monitoring and evaluation expectations. A detailed list of performance metrics and instructions for reporting will be agreed with the grant holder upon commencement of a successful grant. You are responsible for providing and publishing annual progress reports against non-financial performance metrics.

Management Structure

You should have established an appropriate management structure with clear lines of responsibility and authority to oversee the day-to-day running of the project. This should be in place within three months of the start date of the grant. The terms of reference and management structure, including the project lead, co-lead/s and any other senior staff involved must be approved by us in advance, as must any changes to this structure.

The project officer will be our main contact with the project and must receive all meeting minutes of the management committees. We reserve the right to attend any meetings.

Management Resourcing

Adequate resourcing to support an appropriate management structure, as specified in the funding opportunity documentation, should be costed within the grant.

Intent To Submit

If you intend to apply as lead applicant, your research organisation must complete this survey by 11 November 2026. You will not be permitted to apply to the funding opportunity if your research organisation has not completed the survey.

For further details, and the link, see the ‘How to apply’ section.

Trusted Research And Innovation (Tr&I)

UKRI has a long-standing and continuing commitment to supporting and enabling safe and effective collaboration in research and innovation. UKRI is equally committed to ensuring that this takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks.

Our Principles and expectations set out the principles that UKRI applies to TR&I and our general expectations of the research organisations (including businesses, research institutes, and research technical organisations) that we support. Organisations supported by UKRI should be able to provide evidence that their internal controls and processes meet these expectations.

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

Intent To Submit

You must complete an Intent to submit (ItS) form by 4:00pm on 11 November 2026 to be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity.

Applications from applicants who have not previously submitted an ItS will not be considered. ItS information will not be formally assessed and is only required by UKRI for planning purposes. You are not required to have finalised the details of your application when the ItS form is completed and submitted to UKRI.

We recognise that information provided in the proposal, including the names of the project co-leads, may differ from the information provided in the ItS form.

The form will ask you to provide the following information:

• name of project lead

• name(s) project co-lead(s) at the time of ItS submission. This list can change prior to outline submission deadline

• project lead email address

• project lead UK academic host institution

• project partner organisation name(s). This list can change prior to submission deadline

• proposed project draft title

• the UKRI Funding Service application reference number. You will need to begin an application on the Funding Service to get this number but will not be required to complete the submission process until the closing date stipulated on the Funding Service

We are running this funding opportunity on the new 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.

• Confirm you are the project lead.

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

• 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.

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

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

• 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

UKRI must receive your application by 9 December 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 funding opportunity.

Processing Personal Data

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.

This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility, and organisations who are based overseas. Check if your organisation is eligible.

UKRI individual eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit UKRI’s eligibility page.