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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 (£)
Engineering458 322,472,962
Information and Communication Technologies511 361,754,948
Mathematical Sciences474 241,949,400
Physical Sciences585 502,750,805
Research Infrastructure306 178,193,173

Total Number of Grants: 2,334
Total Value of Grants: £1,607,121,287


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 Economy54 58,283,096
Energy217 234,438,613
Global Uncertainties20 13,002,571
Healthcare Technologies230 274,676,019
Living with Environmental Change4 2,439,483
Manufacturing the Future157 254,021,818
Quantum Technologies67 168,197,054

Total Number of Grants: 749
Total Value of Grants: £1,005,058,656


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 (£)
104 62,726,629