EPSRC international partnerships and collaboration

Research is international and many challenges that we face are global. As well as maintaining the strength of UK research, we want UK researchers to be able to work with the best and most effective collaborators around the world. Our international partnerships and global agreements are key to enabling this.

Partnerships

EPSRC work closely with colleagues across UKRI, including colleagues in our overseas offices, to develop and build partnerships with international funding organisations.

Agreements

EPSRC have international agreements with overseas organisations at various levels, including our lead agency agreements with funding agencies in the USA, Luxembourg and Brazil.

International calls

Our funding initiatives aim to provide leading UK research groups with the opportunity to work in partnership with the best and most effective international researchers. We have funded two rounds of the EPSRC International Centre to Centre funding opportunity to deliver this initiative with over £30 million awarded. The objectives of these calls were to:

  • Enable high-profile, best-with-best international collaborations focused on excellent research with impact
  • To contribute to EPSRC strategy by supporting high-quality research collaborations which align with our research area strategies and address the priorities related to Delivery Plan objectives
  • To further the UK’s strategic needs in international science and innovation partnerships

Any current international funding opportunities can be found using our funding finder.

International costs you can apply for

A broad range of resources for international collaborations may be requested on any EPSRC proposal, provided they are clearly justified. Resources which could be requested include:

  • PI, Co-I and PDRA visits to overseas labs
  • Cost of access to facilities (if not free at point of access)
  • Hosting ‘Visiting Researchers’ in a UK institution for up to 12 months
  • UK-employed PDRAs working in overseas labs for part of their contract – costs can include consumables
  • Subcontracting of a service, with strong justification for why the service was sough out of the UK.

Researchers at non-UK institutions are not eligible for EPSRC funding with the exception of specific calls that allow international investigators.

Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding

EPSRC supports cutting-edge research to address challenges faced by developing countries via the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and the Newton Fund. These funds address the United Nations sustainable development goals and aim to maximise the impact of research and innovation to improve lives and opportunity in the developing world.