STFC Funding Opportunities

STFC operates the following grant-funded research programmes:-

• Astronomy Research Grants - awarded for research in the areas of astronomy, cosmology and solar system science.
  
  
• Particle Physics Research Grants - awarded for research in experimental and theoretical particle physics.
  
  
• Facility Research and Development Scheme - for the development of UK national laser, neutron and synchrotron facilities.
  
  
• Nuclear Physics - provide funding in support of the UK nuclear physics programme.
  
  
• PATT Travel Grants - awarded for the travel and subsistence cost of observing trips to recognised telescopes, including STFC telescopes.
  
  
• Project Research and Development (PRD) Scheme - intended to develop the capabilities needed to underpin UK science and technology leadership in future STFC projects.
  
  
• High Performance Computing Grants - providing access to HPC facilities.
  
  
• IPS (Innovations Partnership Scheme), formely known as PIPSS - funding collaborations between UK researchers and UK industry or other eligible partners.
  
  
• Follow on Funding - aims to support the commercialisation of research ideas and provides funds to enable these ideas to be brought to a stage where commercial opportunities can be secured.
  
  
• PPRP projects - focus on major new projects that are considered to have significant scientific priority in particle physics, nuclear physics, astronomy, particle astrophysics and solar system science. Examples of these include participation in new experiments or missions, the development of new instruments or upgrades to existing detectors.
  
  
• STFC operates a fellowships scheme for researchers who do not yet have a permanent academic position; Ernest Rutherford Fellowships. STFC also supports a number of different fellowship schemes to help improve the careers of the scientists we support.
  
  
• Futures programme – awarded for network and concept funding.

Other funding opportunities:

• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships - encourage partnerships between universities and industry. Associates (graduate or post doctoral) are placed in a company to work on a project that is a key part of the company's business development strategy.
  
  
• Science in Society - aims to engage public and school audiences in our science and technology through the large and small award schemes, the science centre scheme and the schools grant scheme.