EPSRC Reimagining Circularity

Funding to develop a NetworkPlus that builds new capacity, strengthens community and enhances research to innovation capabilities focused on the circular economy in built environment, textiles or data and metrics.

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have launched this opportunity to fund three NetworkPlus investments that build new capacity, strengthen community and enhance research to innovation capabilities focused on the circular economy in built environment, textiles or data and metrics. Applicants must imaginatively use the ‘Plus’ element to accelerate impact in their chosen area.

The networks and flexible funding opportunities should focus on circular solutions that maximise value and extend life, such as repair and system redesign. The networks will lead to step changes in circular solutions that are currently under-explored, such as retrofit, repurpose, refurbish, repair, and synthesise these solutions together with others such as reuse. 

Two NetworkPlus investments will be aligned with two of the UK government circular economy (CE) priority sectors (built environment, and textiles). The third will be a cross-cutting network focused on data and metrics, providing early-stage support for development and testing of metrics, indicators and data frameworks to enable and evaluate circular economy progress.

The Networks should drive progress, support high quality collaborative research and establish themselves as leaders in these areas. They must bring together diverse communities spanning academia, industry, policy, and others with expertise in related areas, such as behavioural science, innovation and circular business models, from across the UK. The inclusion of industrial partners is mandatory and a crucial aspect of the network.

Applications must be within majority EPSRC remit. Teams must implement an inter or transdisciplinary approach, or both, including industrial partners. Applicants are strongly encouraged to form and establish long-lasting partnerships in local governance/with individuals in policy, and with third sector community groups.

The duration of this award is a maximum of 36 months. Projects must not start before 1 May 2027.