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EPSRC Support By Theme


Capability Themes
EPSRC’s support for excellent, long-term disciplinary and multidisciplinary research, in engineering and the physical sciences.

Please Note: Challenge theme funding that is delivered by the Capability themes is excluded from the table below.


National Capability ThemeNumber of GrantsProportional Value (£)
Engineering463 319,249,756
Information and Communication Technologies497 386,894,351
Mathematical Sciences459 228,048,056
Physical Sciences569 502,403,368
Research Infrastructure283 192,774,748

Total Number of Grants: 2,271
Total Value of Grants: £1,629,370,280


Challenge Themes
EPSRC’s support for research to help solve some of the most serious global, economic and societal challenges facing the UK.

The grants values listed below include Challenge theme funding that is delivered by the Capability themes.

Challenge ThemeNumber of GrantsProportional Value (£)
Digital Economy52 57,662,045
Energy196 205,158,416
Global Uncertainties17 10,041,633
Healthcare Technologies217 264,978,726
Living with Environmental Change4 2,439,483
Manufacturing the Future147 250,385,165
Quantum Technologies63 165,935,796

Total Number of Grants: 696
Total Value of Grants: £956,601,265


Non Theme Specific Funding
Some types of funding (large training awards such as the Doctoral Training Accounts or Institutional type awards) cannot be easily and immediately (at the time of award) attributed to individual Capability or Challenge themes. However, to allow a fuller comparison of the funding portfolio by theme, the value and number of such awards, are reported in this table. Where possible, the funding listed in this table will be attributed to individual Capability and Challenge themes in due course.

Non Theme SpecificNumber of GrantsValue (£)
103 62,621,304