My winning proposal: Constructing a solid EPSRC bid

Take your time working up a bid to the EPSRC’s manufacturing stream

Top tips:

• For Standard Grant applications, take your time finessing the application; if the grant is not ready, do not submit.
• Gaining buy-in from industrial partners not only benefits your project but can impress upon reviewers that a fundamental research project has potential to be applied.
• When paring back a bid keep the list of the key points you definitely want included to hand.
• When you have taken time to build a strong team, showcase it.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s manufacturing-priority panel meets every quarter and has up to £3-million available per panel meeting. Bids to the panel follow the council’s normal Standard Grant format but focus on research challenges facing the manufacturing industry both now and in the future. Collaborations with businesses and the public sector are encouraged.