The Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and is part of the wider Supergen Programme, which was set up in 2001 by the EPSRC to deliver sustained and coordinated research on Sustainable PowER GENeration and supply. It specifically looks at synergies between offshore wind, wave and tidal technologies as well as building on current research in each area.

Supergen ORE provides the Early Career Research Fund to provide flexible funding for small activities that either support and develop Early Career Researchers’ (ECR) existing research activities or develop their skills further. The fund primarily helps individuals develop as ECRs while also developing the science, engineering and technology necessary to deliver Offshore Renewable Energy.

Examples of activities that could be supported include the following:

• A discrete research activity, possibly seed funding leading to a new more substantial proposal, including a research Fellowship application, or seed funding to develop a new collaboration with industrial partners.
• Travel for a national or international collaboration.
• Small equipment/consumables.
• An industrial internship or public service secondment.
• Awards to support a return from a career break.
• Public awareness engagement activities and support for developing outreach events are particularly welcome.

Research activities should be aligned with the objectives of the Supergen ORE Hub. Applications should be directed at offshore wind, wave or tidal energy research. Multi-disciplinary or multi-sectoral proposals are welcome.

Applicants must be ECRs who are either Early Career Academic Staff (less than three years from first academic appointment) or Post-Doctoral Research Assistants.

ECRs should be employed by an organisation that is eligible to receive EPSRC funding. The proposed activity must not extend beyond the ECRs current employment.

The total available per applicants is £5,000 at 80% full economic cost (FEC), meaning the maximum award available per applicant is £4,000. The funding is primarily for researcher salary costs but funding for equipment may be allowed if fully justified.