The Nuclear AMRC leads and participates in numerous collaborative research and development projects, supported by UK and international funding programmes.

We lead and collaborate in externally-funded R&D projects including those supported by Innovate UK, EPSRC, the Nuclear Innovation Programme and the European Horizon 2020 programme. These projects bring together the Nuclear AMRC, manufacturers along the supply chain, and other specialist research centres. They aim to address specific problems in high-value manufacturing, and deliver technical innovation and sustainable economic benefits.

We always want to hear from potential project partners. We have extensive experience in forming project consortiums, preparing bids, winning funding, and successfully managing collaborative R&D projects. We aim to manage projects to the highest standards, and are a corporate partner of the Association of Project Management (APM).

We can also bring our unique capabilities and resources for innovative large-scale manufacturing to projects led by others.

Current funding sources for collaborative R&D at the Nuclear AMRC include:

  • Innovate UK – the UK’s innovation agency, supporting R&D projects in a range of priority areas, with regular funding competitions to help companies develop new ideas. Programmes managed by Innovate UK include the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and also funds the Catapult network.
  • EPSRC – the UK’s main agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences. EPSRC is principally funded by the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and invests more than £800 million a year in a broad range of subjects. EPSRC is part of UKRI.
  • Nuclear Innovation Programme – part of the BEIS Energy Innovation Programme, offering around £180 million over 2016–21 to support the aims of the Nuclear Sector Deal.
  • Horizon 2020 – a European Commission programme to bring innovation to market. Horizon 2020 operated over 2014–20, supporting collaborative projects involving industry, SMEs and research institutions across Europe, with a strong focus on sustainable manufacturing.

Find out more about our current and recent collaborative R&D projects.

To find out more about working with us on collaborative R&D projects, contact Matthew Wheatley, Nuclear AMRC business development manager: matthew.wheatley@namrc.co.uk

How it works

The process for a collaborative R&D project will vary depending on the source of funding and the exact nature of the research, but a typical company journey is outlined below. Project schedules can vary from a few months to several years, but we will support you through every stage.

1. Talk to us.
Help us understand your current capabilities and what you want to achieve, the problem you want to solve or the innovation you want to develop.

2. Identify funding
We keep track of new funding calls and opportunities from all the major funding bodies. If any match your interests, we will provide details as soon as possible.

3. Consortium building
Many calls require a consortium of companies and research institutions. We can identify potential partners from our network to meet specific requirements.

4. Bid writing & submission
You will need to provide technical information, detailed costs and a business case. We can manage bid writing, even if we’re not leading the project itself.

5. Contract negotiation
If we are leading the project, we will manage the formal agreements between the funder and consortium members, including IP issues. If you are leading, we can advise as required.

6. Project kickoff
The consortium meets to discuss detailed work planning and management. We can host the kickoff meeting if appropriate.

7. Regular project updates
We will arrange regular meetings and updates to discuss progress, share ideas, and ensure that all partners are delivering to schedule.

8. Project close & follow-on activity
We can manage final reporting, and support dissemination through our established communications channels. We can also discuss continuing collaboration to take the innovations developed during the project to the next level of commercial development.