Funding for research equipment
There are a few routes available to apply for equipment. In some cases the School may be able to provide financial support towards equipment costs.
1. Applying for equipment within a UKRI Research Grant
You can apply for equipment as part of a UKRI research grant. For items costing between £10,000 - £400,000, the funder typically covers 50% and the School may also contribute. Email the School Senior Finance Advisor early if you wish to discuss a potential School contribution.
NB The School contribution is only available for applications to UKRI bodies.
Indicative School support
| Total cost of equipment | Department contribution required | SoT contribution provided | Funder contribution provided |
| < £150k | £0 | 50%, up to £75k | 50% |
| £150 - 300k | Remaining match requirement beyond the £75k contributed by the School | £75k | 50% |
| > £300k | As determined by Head of Department | School seeks to match to dept contribution (subject to funds available in equipment matching pot), regardless of matching requirements set by funder | Variable |
2. Dedicated equipment calls
Some Research Councils run calls specifically to fund equipment. Under these, the funder contribution is greater than 50%. The main equipment calls for the School of Technology are summarised below.
For a full explanation of the different levels of equipment award made by EPSRC, see the EPSRC guide to types of equipment funding.
EPSRC Core Equipment (items £10,000 - £400,000)
The University is allocated an award by algorithm and usually runs an internal open call to select items for this. Call information is circulated to Departments at the time.
EPSRC Strategic Infrastructure (items over £400,000)
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Full information is on the UKRI Funding Finder.
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Apply directly to EPSRC; there is no deadline.
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Each University may submit only 6 applications within a 12-month period. Internal coordination is not necessary (accurate as of August 2024), as the University’s application numbers are typically below the limit.
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Discuss Departmental support with your Head of Department.
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Contact the School Finance Business Partner at least three weeks before your planned submission date, to discuss any School financial contribution requests.
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For financial contributions exceeding £500,000, iterative negotiations with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Resources & Operations are necessary and a longer notice period is required.
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You must obtain a Head of School letter of support to confirm the institutional contribution.
MRC mid-range equipment (items between £100,000 - £800,000)
Usually run as a standard restricted call within the University. Call information is circulated to Departments at the time.
BBSRC ALERT mid-range equipment (items between £200,000 - £1,500,000)
Usually run as a standard restricted call within the University. Call information is circulated to Departments at the time.
Sharing equipment
West Cambridge operates an open wishlist for shared/shareable equipment. Any PI can nominate specific items or capabilities, and gather support from colleagues across the organisation. The wishlist is periodically reviewed by West Cambridge Heads of Department, and items with strong endorsement may be flagged as suitable for specific funding calls. Applicants would then apply for the funding via the usual School processes, detailed above.