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Funder Strategies & Opportunities

When preparing a grant application, it is crucial to closely examine the strategy and priorities of the research funder.

Alignment with Funding Agency Goals

Funding agencies are motivated by specific visions and objectives, and they seek applications that align closely with these goals. To increase the chances of a successful grant application, researchers must ensure that their research objectives are in harmony with the agency's mission and priorities. This involves reshaping the research question if necessary to fit the agency's call for proposals and clearly explaining how the proposed research aligns with the agency's goals.

Understanding potential future funding opportunities

Funding agencies develop new funding calls based on their strategies. By knowing their strategies you will have a better idea of the topics of theme-based funding calls.

Click on the links below to learn more about the funder strategies in your research area:

 

UKRI

  • UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has a five-year strategy called Transforming Tomorrow Together 2022 to 2027. UKRI strategic themes include:
    • build a green future
    • build a secure and resilient world
    • create opportunities and improve outcomes in communities across the country
    • secure better health, ageing and wellbeing for everyone
    • tackle infections

 

 

EPSRC

  • EPSRC have four mission-driven priorities:
    • driving the translation of breakthroughs in engineering and physical sciences research through to social and economic benefit in net zero
    • artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and data
    • transforming health and healthcare
    • quantum technologies

 

EPSRC Themes may also include their own strategies:

 

STFC

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) funds research in these core areas:

 

The following science challenges in frontier physics help to guide what STFC invest in across their research portfolio:

  • how did the universe begin and how is it evolving?
  • how do stars and planetary systems develop and how do they support the existence of life?
  • what are the basic constituents of matter and how do they interact?

Explore STFC’s science challenges.

 

NERC

NERC’s current programmes include:

In Spring 2025, NERC will publish its first Forward Look for environmental science.  Developed in collaboration with the community and stakeholders, NERC’s Forward Look will set out their research and innovation priorities and how they will support the underpinning capabilities needed to deliver environmental science over a ten-year horizon.  NERC has identified three R&I priorities: 

  • Green Growth 
  • Environmental Security 
  • Responsible Innovation 

These priorities will be delivered through key capabilities: National Capability, Frontiers of Knowledge and Partnerships which together underpin our world-leading environmental science.  

NERC initial draft Forward Look Summary can be found here.

 

BBSRC

BBSRC’s priorities fall under bioscience discovery and strategic challenges

Priorities for ‘Advancing the frontiers of bioscience discovery’ are:

Priorities for ‘Tackling strategic challenges’ are:

 

ESRC

ESRC currently have 5 priority research areas:

  • Net Zero, environment, biodiversity and climate change
  • digital society
  • health and social care
  • security, risk and resilience
  • understanding behaviour

 

MRC

MRC’s five research boards have strategic priorities that help guide the research they invest in. Their research boards are:

 

Other funders

Other funders will also have strategies which inform their funding opportunities. Examples include:

  • Wellcome Trust
    • ‘Discovery Science’
    • Challenge led priorities in Mental health, climate change and infectious diseases
  • Royal Academy of Engineering
    • RAEng 2020-2025 strategy is Engineering for a sustainable society and inclusive economy
  • Royal Society
    • Royal Society strategic plan 2022–2027 centres around five key areas of work:  The Fellowship, Foreign Membership and beyond; Influencing in the UK and globally; Research system and culture; Science and society; Corporate and governance

 

UK Government Strategies & Reviews

As well as funder strategies, there have been many recent UK Government Strategies & Reviews including:

 

 

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