Equipment
A major source of funding for equipment is EPSRC. EPSRC provides funding for equipment through multiple routes. More information on these is found below.
Equipment on grants
This funding is appropriate for when the:
- equipment scale is for a single user or single project
- equipment nature ranges from enabling and core through to state of the art
- level of funding is £25,000 to £400,000
Core equipment
This funding is appropriate for when the:
- equipment scale is departmental, interdepartmental or regional
- equipment nature is mainly enabling
- level of funding is £25,000 to £400,000
The Research Relations Team oversee the University’s application for the EPSRC Core Equipment Award.
This award is a block grant to the university, awarded usually every 2 years, to support underpinning equipment of between £10K-£400K per item.
The size of the University’s block grant is determined by an algorithm calculated based on equipment funded in the last 5 years. This includes all competitive capital funding, ie, strategic infrastructure and equipment on grants.
The last EPSRC Core Equipment Award was in 2024. The university received £600,000 plus an additional £200,000 for equipment maintenance.
The Research Relations Team coordinate the internal process for selection of equipment to be included in the EPSRC Core Equipment Award. We expect the next call to be in 2026.
Strategic infrastructure
This funding is appropriate for when the:
- infrastructure scale is departmental, interdepartmental, regional or national
- infrastructure nature is enhancing, unique or state of the art
- level of funding is £400,000 and over
EPSRC’s Strategic Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for equipment over £400K in value. The university can make up to 6 applications per year. The Research Strategy Office run an annual selection process for this scheme. Please contact the Research Relations Team for more information.
Other funders
Other funders also provide funding for equipment. Examples include:
- MRC’s mid-range equipment for biomedical research – annual call
- BBSRC ALERT Multi-user equipment call
Applications to these two schemes are coordinated by the Research Strategy Office.
Internal funding may also be available for equipment.
Sources of help
- The Research Relations team can help you think about suitable options
- The West Cambridge Sharing Initiative - Sponsored by the Schools of Technology and the Physical Sciences, the West Cambridge Sharing Project aims to create opportunities for sharing research space, equipment and staff on the University’s West Cambridge Campus.
More information can be found on the West Cambridge SharePoint site:
UoC_West Cambridge Shared Resources - Home
- The Equipment Project Manager within the Research Operations Office coordinates an equipment searchable database more widely across the university. Contact him at Christopher.R.Wilkinson@admin.cam.ac.uk for more information
- Many funders are increasingly interested in environmental sustainability of labs. For example Cancer Research UK (CRUK) recently published FAQs in relation to their policy on environmental sustainability in research funding. A key aspect of this policy is that to be eligible for CRUK response-mode grant funding, Lead and Joint Lead applicants must each hold the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) certification at the Silver level (or an equivalent scheme) at the time of submission. This requirement will be enforced for Lead and Joint Lead Applicants submitting proposals to all relevant funding calls closing from 1 January 2026 onwards.
For further guidance on achieving LEAF certification, please email the Sustainability team sustainability@admin.cam.ac.uk
information about LEAF on the University of Cambridge Sustainability Hub