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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 (£)
Engineering480 332,196,005
Information and Communication Technologies469 328,477,864
Mathematical Sciences525 244,165,626
Physical Sciences628 517,909,486
Research Infrastructure351 185,541,744

Total Number of Grants: 2,453
Total Value of Grants: £1,608,290,725


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 Economy62 61,151,586
Energy254 280,326,270
Global Uncertainties43 17,654,021
Healthcare Technologies264 271,946,917
Living with Environmental Change5 3,392,414
Manufacturing the Future199 319,549,212
Quantum Technologies69 174,820,120

Total Number of Grants: 896
Total Value of Grants: £1,128,840,541


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 (£)
108 59,146,813