EPSRC Hybrid Algorithms for Quantum Advantage

EPSRC Hybrid Algorithms for Quantum Advantage is sponsored by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Hybrid Algorithms for Quantum Advantage – UKRI Funding opportunity: Hybrid Algorithms for Quantum Advantage Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 11 June 2026 9:00am UK time 20 August 2026 4:00pm UK time Apply for funding to advance the theoretical capabilities required for the design and implementation of hybrid quantum algorithms, strengthening the UK capability to scale from the Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum computing (NISQ) era towards achieving quantum advantage.

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funding. The full economic cost (FEC) of your application can be up to £2,856,250. EPSRC will fund 80% of the cost.

Projects must be no more than 3 years in duration with the latest start date of 1 February 2027. This opportunity is open to organisations with standard eligibility. Check if your organisation is eligible .

EPSRC standard 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. Funding for this opportunity is subject to Full Business Case approval. International researchers Neither the UKRI-RCN (UK Research and Innovation and Research Council of Norway) money follows cooperation agreement nor the UKRI-IIASA (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) agreement applies to this funding opportunity.

As such applications submitted to this funding opportunity cannot include an IIASA or a Norway-based Project Co-Lead (international). You should include all international collaborators (or UK partners not based at approved organisations) as project partners. We will not accept uninvited resubmissions of projects that have been submitted to UKRI or any other funder.

Find out more about EPSRC’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: support for people with caring responsibilities alternative working patterns UKRI can offer disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders during the application and assessment process. 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.

This funding opportunity supports the aims of National Quantum Strategy Mission 1 (QM1), which states “by 2035, there will be accessible, UK-based quantum computers capable of running 1 trillion operations and supporting applications that provide benefits which surpass those of classical supercomputers across key sectors of the economy”.

Successful applications will address the reduction of resource requirements through adaptive estimation and innovative algorithms, while incorporating high-value sector engagement, user adoption and seamless domain integration of quantum computing. QM1 builds on significant recent advances in quantum hardware, software, error correction, and quantum–classical integration.

Mission success will require forward-looking investigation into new quantum computing architectures, algorithms, and application paradigms, that can unlock new ways of deploying these capabilities within hybrid quantum-classical computing workflows.

The recommendations from the Independent Review of the Future of Compute highlighted the need for: user access to cutting-edge hardware and skills growing engineering and software capability embedding cybersecurity in new infrastructures strengthening UK participation in international standards and collaborative R&D.

Together, these drivers underline the importance of developing robust quantum-classical hybrid computation (QCHC) that can deliver real-world impact. This funding opportunity is led by EPSRC in partnership with the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC).

It seeks to enable collaboration between researchers, industry, government and regulators to accelerate hybrid quantum-classical computing across hardware, software, algorithms and applications in support of QM1. We are looking to fund projects that enable scalable, resource-efficient and trustworthy hybrid quantum-classical computation.

Research in the following areas is welcomed: adaptive resource estimation and algorithmic efficiency (methods to drive down computational resource requirements through innovative algorithms, adaptive estimation under uncertainty, and workflows aligned with high-value sector needs) compilation, modelling and translation from algorithms to machine executable code (tools and models for translating algorithms into efficient quantum classical programs, including estimating hardware scale, qubit quality, classical coprocessing and operational depth required to run them) quantum and classical resource co-estimation (understanding how classical resources scale when quantum elements are optimised, and how to balance workloads across hybrid systems) verification, benchmarking, error mitigation and error correction (scalable testing and validation frameworks, error-mitigation techniques, resource-efficient approaches to error correction, and benchmarking strategies suitable for NISQ and pre-fault-tolerant systems) future technology requirements and foundational theory (novel research topics underpinning the long‑term scaling of hybrid quantum–classical computing, driving rapid progress beyond the NISQ era through the Mega‑QuOp stage and onward to Giga‑ and Tera‑QuOp (GQuOp and TQuOp) era) This is not an exhaustive list.

You may propose other areas of novel research. Where appropriate and relevant, we expect project teams to have identified a suitable collaborative partner. When building the case for impact, projects should either target specific economic sectors that drive growth, or public services where there is a clear opportunity to drive improvement.

Potential end users can extend beyond industry to, for example, policy customers in government departments or arms-length bodies, and third-sector actors such as cancer research, materials, genomics or fintech. EPSRC expects projects with named partners to secure leverage, both financial and in-kind, from those partners.

Where relevant to the proposed research, partners are expected to hold or have access to the data that would be used in real‑world workflow scenarios. The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) can help facilitate introductions with potential public sector organisations. Please email Quantumtechnologies@epsrc.

ukri. org if this is of interest. Collaboration with the NQCC is not mandatory.

However, the NQCC is enthusiastic about supporting successful projects, and this may include: access to NQCC testbeds and quantum hardware, including that provided through third-party providers use of NQCC’s simulation platforms collaboration with NQCC technical staff Up to £11,425,000 of EPSRC funding will be available for this opportunity. The FEC of your project can be up to £2,856,250. EPSRC will fund 80% FEC.

Projects must be no more than three years in duration with a latest start date of 1 February 2027. Due to the nature of the mission, there will be additional requirements on reporting, monitoring and evaluation, and grant extensions. This will be reflected in the grant additional conditions, and those funded will need to comply with them.

Further details are provided in the ‘Additional information’ section. Resources may be used for research expenses including but not limited to: UKRI-funded research facilities.

Please note that if you plan to use a major facility in your research, such as those funded centrally by EPSRC or a European facility, contact the facility before applying to EPSRC to check if your proposed research is feasible, and obtain a technical assessment if the TFS system marks it as required research technical support including research software engineers, data scientists, postdoctoral research assistants and fellow salaries consumables and smaller items of equipment individually costing less than £25,000 access to or purchase of computing hardware (such as GPU resource) that exceeds £25,000, if this is essential to your project Resources may also be used for activities that initiate, grow, and maintain collaborations with stakeholders (for example academia, business, government, third sector) such as: Purchase of equipment over £25,000 in value (including VAT) is not permitted.

An exception is made for computing hardware (such as GPU resource) if this is integral to your project, and if accessing existing hardware is not feasible. Supporting skills and talent We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment .

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) UKRI is committed in ensuring that effective international collaboration in research and innovation takes place with integrity and within strong ethical frameworks.

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) is a UKRI work programme designed to help protect all those working in our thriving and collaborative international sector by enabling partnerships to be as open as possible, and as secure as necessary. Our TR&I Principles set out UKRI’s expectations of organisations funded by UKRI in relation to due diligence for international collaboration.

As such, applicants for UKRI funding may be asked to demonstrate how their proposed projects will comply with our approach and expectation towards TR&I, identifying potential risks and the relevant controls you will put in place to help proportionately reduce these risks. See further guidance and information about TR&I , including where you can find additional support.

EPSRC will assess risks by evaluating applications and responses to the TR&I assessment question after submission, as well as giving further consideration to applications which are recommended for funding at the panel meeting. Environmental sustainability UKRI’s environmental sustainability strategy lays out our ambition to actively lead environmental sustainability across our sectors.

This includes a vision to ensure that all major investment and funding decisions we make are directly informed by environmental sustainability, recognising environmental benefits as well as potential for environmental harm.

Environmental sustainability is a broad term but may include consideration of such broad areas as: reducing carbon emissions protecting and enhancing the natural environment and biodiversity waste or pollution elimination resource efficiency and a circular economy EPSRC, on behalf of UKRI, expects applications to embed careful consideration of environmental sustainability.

You are expected to work within the EPSRC framework for responsible innovation . We are running this funding opportunity on the 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. Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page: Confirm you are the project lead.

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 (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 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 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 the application. Hyperlinks can be used in reference information.

When including references, you should consider how your references will be viewed and used by the assessors, ensuring that: references are easily identifiable by the assessors references are formatted as appropriate to your research persistent identifiers are used where possible General use of hyperlinks Applications should be self-contained. You should only use hyperlinks to link directly to reference information.

You must not include links to web resources to extend your application. Assessors are not required to access links to conduct assessment or recommend a funding decision. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) Use of generative AI tools to prepare funding applications is permitted, however, caution should be applied.

For more information see our policy on the use of generative AI in application and assessment . EPSRC must receive your application by 20 August 2026 at 4:00pm UK time You will not be able to apply after this time. Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to this funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected. If an application is withdrawn prior to peer review or office rejected due to substantive errors in the application, it cannot be resubmitted to the opportunity.

EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications. We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice .

If you or a core team member needs to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email TFSchangeEPSRC@epsrc. ukri. org Include in the subject line: [the funding opportunity title; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number].

Typical examples of confidential information include: individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave) additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section conflict of interest for UKRI to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection the application is an invited resubmission For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice .

Institutional Matched Funding There is no requirement for matched funding from the institutions hosting the project lead, project co-leads or other staff employed on the application, beyond the standard 20% FEC. Expert reviewers and panels assessing UKRI funding applications must not consider levels of institutional matched funding as a factor on which to base recommendations.

Direct and in-kind contributions from third party project partners are encouraged. This policy does not remove the need for support from host organisations who must provide the necessary research environment and infrastructure for award-specific activities funded by UKRI. For example, research facilities, training and development of staff.

EPSRC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity at EPSRC Funding Applications Outcomes If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research . In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We usually make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information.

Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example: the wider research community List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following: project co-lead (UK) (PcL) professional enabling staff research and innovation associate Only list one individual as project lead UKRI has introduced a new addition to the ‘Specialist’ role type.

Public contributors such as people with lived experience can now be added to an application. Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications . Create a document that includes your responses to all criteria.

This document should not be more than six sides of A4, single spaced in 11-point Arial (or equivalent sans serif font) with margins of at least 2cm. You may include images, graphs, tables. You may have one additional page for a diagrammatic workplan, and one additional page for references, making a combined maximum of 8 pages.

For the file name, use the unique Funding Service number the system gives you when you create an application, followed by the words ‘Vision and Approach’. Save this document as a single PDF file, no bigger than 8MB. Unless specifically requested, please do not include any sensitive personal data within the attachment.

If the attachment does not meet these requirements, the application will be rejected. The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply. What are you hoping to achieve with and how will you deliver your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response For the Vision, explain how your proposed work: is of excellent quality and importance within or beyond the field(s) or area(s) has the potential to advance current understanding, generates new knowledge, thinking or discovery within or beyond the field or area is timely, given current trends, context and needs impacts world-leading research, society, the economy or the environment recognises and responds to the current industry‑led landscape of quantum computing will make significant progress towards achieving the aims of QM1 as outlined in the Scope section of the opportunity For the Approach, explain how you have designed your work 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 complements and builds upon previous and current research will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place, and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work operates within the current industry‑led quantum computing landscape, recognising the primary customers, end-users and technology integrators References may be included within this section.

Applicant and team capability to deliver Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have: the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

Further details are provided in the Funding Service. The word count for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) modules (including references) and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the R4RI format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work. Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed.

Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI .

You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings: contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships contributions to the wider research and innovation community contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit Provide any further details relevant to your application.

This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them). Complete this as a narrative.

Do not format it like a CV. References may be included within this section. The roles in funding applications policy has descriptions of the different project roles.

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service. A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research.

This may include: direct contributions, for example cash, donated equipment and resources, or staff seconded to the project indirect and in-kind contributions, for example use of project partner’s equipment, datasets, or facilities Project partners may be in industry, academia, third sector or government organisations in the UK or overseas, including partners based in the EU.

Add the following project partner details: the organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable) the project partner contact name and email address the type of contribution (direct or indirect) and its monetary value If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made. Project partners: letters (or emails) of support Upload a single PDF containing the letters or emails of support from each partner you named in the Project Partner section. These should be uploaded in English or Welsh only.

Enter the words ‘attachment supplied’ in the text box, or if you do not have any project partners enter N/A.

Each letter or email you provide should: confirm the partner’s commitment to the project clearly explain the value, relevance, and possible benefits of the work to them describe any additional value that they bring to the project refer to EPSRC’s guidance on project partners letters of support for further information Project partners letter of support The Funding Service will provide document upload details when you apply.

If you do not have any project partners, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service. Ensure you have prior agreement from project partners so that, if you are offered funding, they will support your project as indicated in the contributions template. For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Do not provide letters of support from host and project co-leads’ research organisations. Does your proposed research require the support and use of a facility? What the assessors are looking for in your response If you need to use a facility, follow your proposed facility’s normal access request procedures.

Ensure you have prior agreement so that if you are offered funding, they will support the use of their facility on your project.

For each requested facility you will need to provide the: name of facility, copied and pasted from the facility information list (DOCX, 42KB) proposed usage or costs, or costs per unit where indicated on the facility information list confirmation you have their agreement where required Facilities should only be named if they are on the facility information list above.

If you do not need to use a facility, you will be able to indicate this in the Funding Service. Resources and cost justification What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

What the assessors are looking for in your response Justify the application’s more costly resources, in particular: significant travel for field work or collaboration (but not regular travel between collaborating organisations or to conferences) any equipment that will cost more than £25,000 any consumables beyond typical requirements, or that are required in exceptional quantities all facilities and infrastructure costs all resources that have been costed as ‘Exceptions’ You can request costs associated with reasonable adjustments where they increase as a direct result of working on the project.

For further information see Disability and accessibility support for UKRI applicants and grant holders . Where a funding limit is imposed on the opportunity, requested costs for reasonable adjustments may exceed the maximum funding amount. Assessors are not looking for detailed costs or a line-by-line breakdown of all project resources.

Overall, they want you to demonstrate how the resources you anticipate needing for your proposed work: are comprehensive, appropriate, and justified represent the optimal use of resources to achieve the intended outcomes maximise potential outcomes and impacts 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.

What the assessors are looking for in your response Evidence that you have identified and evaluated: the relevant ethical and RRI considerations, including both the research or topic area itself and the design and delivery of the project the wider implications of the proposed work, and how you will maximise the positive societal, environmental, and economic benefits arising from the project, while minimising unintended negative impacts, such as research misuse or accidental harm how you will manage these considerations throughout the lifecycle of the project If you are collecting or using data, you should identify: any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing and storing the data (including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further reuse of data) formal information standards that your proposed work will comply with Additional sub-questions (to be answered only if appropriate) relating to research involving: genetically modified organisms You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant.

Further details are provided in the Funding Service. Please refer to the UKRI position statement on funding ethical research and Responsible innovation for more information around our expectations on ethical and responsible research and innovation. Animal Involvement and “3Rs” You must complete this section about how your proposed project will involve or impact animals.

If your project does not involve or impact animals, you must confirm this on the next page. what animals you are involving the severity of the procedures you are using where the procedures will take place welfare standards you aim to meet the relevance of your project to the development, validation or dissemination of the 3Rs You may also need to download, complete, and upload at least one set of additional questions.

You will be told how to do this towards the end of this section. To complete this section and check whether your project is in the scope of the questions, refer to the UKRI policy for research and innovation involving animals . UKRI policy relates to all animals in the Kingdom Animalia, including vertebrates and invertebrates.

Genetically modified organisms and biological risk You must complete this section if your project will include genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies. If you project does not involve genetically modified organisms or genetic technologies, you must confirm this on the next page.

the type of organism your project will involve and the procedures your project will include the intended use of the organism or genetic technology the genetic, biological and environmental risks of your project For more information, see UKRI’s guidance on genetic technologies . Human Participation in Health-related Research You must complete this section about whether your project will include human participation.

If your project does not involve human participation, you must confirm this on the next page.

what type of human participation your project includes the project design for human participation the phase of the clinical trial whether the project will be in an NHS setting, if so, how the project will be registered whether diversity and inclusion will be considered For more information, see UKRI’s guidance for human participants in research .

Trusted Research and Innovation (TR&I) Trusted Research and Innovation is the protection of the UK’s intellectual property, sensitive research, people, and infrastructure from potential theft, misuse, and exploitation. Organisations receiving UKRI funding are obliged to act in line with UK government legislation.

They are also expected to undertake appropriate due diligence assessments of organisations involved in research partnerships, collaboration agreements, and commercial contracts.

which areas of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act your project relates to who you intend to collaborate with and how if your project requires an export control licence Your answers may affect the terms and conditions (T&Cs) of your funding agreement if you are successful. We may use your answers to determine that our current T&Cs are sufficient or if additional T&Cs are required.

How we will assess your application We will assess your application using the following process. Applications will be reviewed by an expert assessment panel and will not be sent for additional review prior to the panel meeting. Panel members will assess the application independently against the assessment criteria and score the application using an evidence-based judgement of the application.

Prior to the assessment panel, panel members will be given the opportunity to request a limited amount of additional information from you under all or some of the assessment criteria. You will be given two weeks to provide a written response to the questions raised. The panel will use the information provided in your application and your response to their questions to agree a consensus score for each application.

Each application will be assessed by at least two panel members. We will invite experts to use the evidence provided in your application to assess your application against all criteria. Each panel member will assign a score to your application based on its quality and rank it alongside other applications, after which