Funding selection criteria are based on the EPSRC criteria adjusted to reflect the scale of the UKFin+ commissioning framework.
Eligibility criteria for all funding streams
EPSRC Remit
UKFin+ is funded by the EPSRC and each project funded must be EPSRC-oriented to a minimum of 50% in EPSRC’s subject remit.
All teams are encouraged to think about how their research aims may be enhanced through an interdisciplinary approach. For the feasibility stream, the team must be interdisciplinary.
All projects must have:
- A lead applicant eligible for UKRI funding (substantial relationship with a higher education academy or approved research organisation).
- Collaboration between HEI and non-HEI
- Published Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, and arrangements for dealing with harassment or bullying complaints
- Commitment to EPSRC Responsible Research and Innovation principles
- Data management plan (where relevant to the proposed activity)
Research projects (Agile, Pilot and Feasibility streams)
All projects are expected to meet the below criteria for vision, approach, applicant and partnerships and resource management, as appropriate for the scale of funding being applied for.
The team especially welcomes applications that address evidenced gaps or needs in the UK’s geographical FinTech clusters, with the potential to strengthen the cluster and drive growth.
Vision
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
Explain how your proposed work
- is of excellent quality and importance to identified stakeholders
- has the potential to advance current understanding, generate new knowledge or new applications of existing knowledge.
- is timely given current trends, contexts and needs for FinTech in the UK.
- makes a contribution to UKFin+ and the broader UK financial services industry.
Approach
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
- if applicable, uses a clear and transparent methodology
- if applicable, summarises the previous work and describes how this will be built upon and progressed
- will maximise translation of research outputs into outcomes and impacts
- describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place, its location, and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work
Applicant and partnerships
Evidence of how you and your team have:
- the relevant expertise and capability to deliver (relevant to career stage)
- the right balance of skills and expertise, including involvement of early career researchers
- contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community
- a collaboration between a research organisation and non-HEI;
- ability to contribute towards the objectives of UKFin to establish a strong and sustainable network across academia and industry
Resources and management (proportionate to the scale and complexity of the activity)
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
- Resources comprehensive and justified
- Viability of arrangements to access any equipment needed, in particular, any university or third-party contribution
- Resources requested to increase impact and meet UKFin+ expectations for engagement
- Level of in-kind partner contribution in context
Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)
What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
Impact stream projects
Vision
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
Explain how your proposed work:
- is of excellent quality and importance to identified stakeholders
- Has the potential to facilitate change beyond the academy
- is timely given current trends, contexts and needs for FinTech in the UK.
- makes a contribution to UKFin+ and the broader UK financial services industry.
Approach
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
- will maximise translation of research outputs into outcomes and impacts
- describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place, its location, and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work
Applicant and partnerships
Evidence of how you and your team have
- the relevant expertise and capability to deliver (relevant to career stage)
- The right balance of skills and expertise, including involvement of early career researchers
- a collaboration between a research organisation and non-HEI
- ability to contribute towards the objectives of UKFin to establish a strong and sustainable network across academia and industry
Resources and management (proportionate to the scale and complexity of the activity)
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
- Resources fully comprehensive and justified
- Viability of arrangements to access any equipment needed, in particular, any university or third-party contribution
- Resources requested to meet UKFin+ expectations for engagement
- Level of in-kind partner contribution in context
Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI)
What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.
Education stream projects
Vision
What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?
Explain how your proposed work
- Is of excellent quality and importance to identified stakeholders
- has the potential to develop the UK financial services talent pool
- is timely given current trends, contexts and needs for FinTech in the UK
- makes a contribution to UKFin+ and the broader UK financial services industry
Approach
How are you going to deliver your proposed work?
Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:
- is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
- is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
- will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
- describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, environment (in terms of the place, its location, and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work
Applicant and partnerships
Evidence of how you and your team have
- the relevant expertise and capability to deliver (relevant to career stage)
- The right balance of skills and expertise, including involvement of early career researchers
- a collaboration between a research organisation and non-HEI
- ability to contribute towards the objectives of UKFin to establish a strong and sustainable network across academia and industry
Resources and management (proportionate to the scale and complexity of the activity)
What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?
- Resources comprehensive and justified
- Viability of arrangements to access any equipment needed, in particular, any university or third-party contribution
- Resources requested to meet UKFin+ expectations for engagement
- Level of in-kind partner contribution in context
Ethics
What are the ethical issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical, explain why.