High performance compute resources for EPSRC communities

Solicitation OPP1335, issued by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under UK Research and Innovation, seeks to fund investments in high-performance compute hardware. The primary objective is to provide CPU resources to meet the needs of compute user communities within the EPSRC remit or to enable the engineering and physical sciences community to utilize GPU architectures for world-leading research. The opportunity is open to various communities, including those not traditionally using Tier 1 or Tier 2 high-performance computing, provided there is a clear plan for integration into the existing landscape. Awards are expected to be multiple, with a likely minimum threshold of 2 million pounds to effectively meet the program's aims. The evaluation process is conducted by an expert panel based on written submissions, with no interviews, although applicants may be required to answer written clarification questions. Key evaluation factors include a sustainability criterion focusing on equality, diversity, inclusion, and equitable access, as well as a preference for cross-institutional thematic communities over single-institution resources. Proposals must demonstrate a wider benefit to national communities and consider Trusted Research and Innovation and National Security Investment implications regarding vendor selection. The associated period of performance is four years, after which the host institution assumes ownership of the equipment. Applications must be submitted via the funding finder portal by October 27, 2026, and require a mandatory pre-application conversation with the EPSRC Research Infrastructure team.