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National Materials Innovation Programme: Digital Materials Sandpit

The National Materials Innovation Programme: Digital Materials Sandpit is a support programme with no direct funding for businesses, for UK research organisations and their industry partners. Open, closes 26 November 2026.

Run by Innovate UK, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

Checked against the official page (ukri.org) on 3 Nov 2026.

A four-day residential sandpit to develop high-impact projects on digital integration to accelerate materials research translation. Run by EPSRC for researchers, innovators and end users.

Apply or find out more Official page

These details are gathered from public web pages and are not financial advice. Check them with Innovate UK before you apply.

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Status and deadline

Status

Open

Confirmed on the official page

Deadline

Closes 26 November 2026 at 4pm (23 days)

As stated: EPSRC must receive your EOI by 26 November 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

Confirmed on the official page

How much

No direct funding available for businesses, though some expenses will be covered. Expected 3 to 8 projects sharing up to £7.12 million; EPSRC will fund 80% of the full economic cost.

Whole fund: £7,125,000, shared between applicants

Not confirmed on the official page

Who can apply

Organisations must be UK research organisations eligible for EPSRC funding; industry partners can attend the sandpit and develop projects as partners but are not eligible for EPSRC funding through this opportunity.

Confirmed on the official page

Business size

Not stated

Sectors

chemistry, materials

Could your business apply?

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How to apply

Complete the expression of interest survey via the Find out more and apply link on the UKRI opportunity page.

Confirmed on the official page

Where it is open: UK-wide

United Kingdom

Confirmed on the official page

HartlepoolMiddlesbroughRedcar and ClevelandStockton-on-TeesDarlingtonHaltonWarringtonBlackburn with DarwenBlackpoolKingston upon Hull, City ofEast Riding of YorkshireNorth East LincolnshireNorth LincolnshireYorkCounty DurhamCheshire EastCheshire West and ChesterNorthumberlandCumberlandWestmorland and FurnessNorth YorkshireBurnleyChorleyFyldeHyndburnLancasterPendlePrestonRibble ValleyRossendaleSouth RibbleWest LancashireWyreBoltonBuryManchesterOldhamRochdaleSalfordStockportTamesideTraffordWiganKnowsleyLiverpoolSt. HelensSeftonWirralDoncasterRotherhamNewcastle upon TyneNorth TynesideSouth TynesideSunderlandBradfordCalderdaleKirkleesLeedsWakefieldGatesheadBarnsleySheffield

Open across United Kingdom, so every council area in the North of England is shaded.

Drawn from the areas the funder names. If a scheme is only for part of a council area, check its own page. Boundaries from the Office for National Statistics.

Things we could not confirm

  • Grant funding is for UK research organisations only; industry can attend as partners but is not eligible for EPSRC funding.
  • Must attend in-person sandpit 1 to 4 February 2027 in Cheshire and online days; virtual introduction the week before.
  • Travel is not covered; accommodation is provided.
  • Opportunity opens 29/10/2026 per the page, which is already open as of today.

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Source and last checked

Local Landscape gathers this information automatically from the pages below, then checks the key details against the official page. Checked against the official page (ukri.org) on 3 Nov 2026. Its details last changed on 3 Nov 2026. No person has checked it, so confirm the details with Innovate UK before you apply.

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