NQS Mission 2 Coordination Network (Grant)

Apply for funding to establish a coordination network supporting Mission 2 of the UK National Quantum Strategy. The network will bring together researchers, industry partners, and network operators to strengthen collaboration, maximise the impact of Mission 2 investments, accelerate progress towards secure, scalable quantum communications and the quantum internet. You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding. The full economic cost (FEC) can be up to £630,937. EPSRC will fund 80% of the FEC. Projects must be no more than 33 months in duration and start by 31 May 2027. Demand management Demand management is not currently being applied to this funding opportunity. However, should the level of interest exceed what can be managed within the assessment process, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) may introduce limits on the number of applications that can be submitted. Further details will be clearly communicated where this is the case. UKRI encourages organisations to support applicants in preparing well-planned, high-quality applications that are competitive for funding relative to the funding opportunity. Aim EPSRC are delivering this funding opportunity as part of the UKRI Quantum Technologies Priority Programme. This funding opportunity supports the aims of the UK National Quantum Strategy Mission 2, which seeks to establish the UK as a world leader in quantum networking and communications by developing secure, scalable quantum networks and laying the foundations for a future quantum internet. By 2035, Mission 2 aims for the UK to have deployed advanced quantum networks at scale and to be pioneering the technologies and capabilities needed to realise the quantum internet. Successful applications will establish a Mission 2 Coordination Network that brings together researchers, industry, network operators, policymakers, infrastructure providers and other stakeholders across the quantum and classical networking and communications landscapes. The network will strengthen coordination across the Mission 2 portfolio, foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, identify shared challenges and opportunities, and support the development of a coherent, connected and internationally competitive UK community. he network should demonstrate how it will: • enhance connectivity across the ecosystem • support the translation and uptake of research outcomes • inform future research and innovation priorities • contribute to the long-term objectives of Mission 2 You should consider how you will engage stakeholders across academia, industry, government and the wider quantum ecosystem to maximise the impact and value of Mission 2 investments. Scope This funding opportunity, led by EPSRC, will support a Coordination Network that acts as a focal point for the UK quantum networking and communications community. The network will provide leadership and coordination across the Mission 2 landscape, complement existing investments, and strengthen connections between academia, industry, policymakers, infrastructure providers, network operators and end users. Through community-building, knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement activities, the network should strengthen connections between research, industry, infrastructure providers, policymakers and end users. It should identify shared challenges and emerging opportunities, facilitate collaboration, promote the uptake of research outcomes, and help shape future research and innovation priorities relevant to Mission 2. The network is expected to foster a coherent, sustainable and internationally competitive UK quantum networking and communications ecosystem that supports the long-term ambitions of Mission 2. We are looking to fund a network that will: • coordinate and connect stakeholders across the UK quantum networking and communications landscape, as well as relevant sectors to include (but not limited to) photonics and classical networking and communications landscape • strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia, industry, government, network operators and end users • support engagement between Mission 2 research projects and relevant industrial, governmental and user communities, including Innovate UK supported testbeds and demonstration activities • facilitate the exchange of expertise, best practice and lessons learned across the portfolio • identify shared research challenges, capability gaps and future opportunities relevant to Mission 2 • help align research activities with evolving user, market and technology needs • promote engagement with quantum networking and communications testbeds, demonstrators and other translational infrastructure, helping to connect research, innovation, users and deployment communities and accelerate pathways towards real-world adoption • support skills development, community building and the growth of future research and innovation capacity • i

This funding opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible . UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) individual eligibility rules apply. For full details, visit EPSRC’s eligibility page . You may be named as project lead in no more than one application. There is no limit to the number of applications you can be named as project co-lead. International researchers The UKRI-RCN (UK Research and Innovation and Research Council of Norway) money follows cooperation agreement does not apply to this funding opportunity. As such applications submitted to this funding opportunity cannot include a Norway-based project co-lead (international). You should include all international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners. Resubmissions We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder. Find out more about UKRI’s resubmissions policy . Equality, diversity and inclusion We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers. We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes: • career breaks • support for people with caring responsibilities • flexible working • alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process.

Click here to start an application on the UKRI Funding Service: https://funding-service.ukri.org/OPP1330/apply/1356 We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system. The project lead is responsible for completing the application process on the Funding Service, but we expect all team members and project partners to contribute to the application. Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI. To apply Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page. • Confirm you are the project lead. • Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. • Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the How to apply section on this Funding finder page. • Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office. • Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing. • Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI. Please be aware that research office and finance teams undertake checks on hosting arrangements and financial eligibility. The ultimate responsibility for ensuring compliance with all opportunity requirements lies with the applicant. Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. When including images, you must: • provide a descriptive caption or legend for each image immediately underneath it in the text box (this must be outside the image and counts towards your word limit) • insert each new image onto a new line • use files smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format Images should only be used to convey important visual information that cannot easily be put into words. The following are not permitted, and your application will be rejected if you include: • sentences or paragraphs of text • tables • excessive quantities of images A few words are permitted where the image would lack clarity without the contextual words, such as a diagram, where text labels are required for an axis or graph column. For more guidance on the Funding Service, see: • how applicants use the Funding Service • how research offices use the Funding Service • how reviewers use the Funding Service References References should be included within the word count of the appropriate question section. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to th