Reimagining Circularity NetworkPlus Programme 2026

The Reimagining Circularity: NetworkPlus Programme is a UK government-funded initiative designed to accelerate innovation and collaboration in the circular economy — an approach that minimizes waste and maximizes resource reuse.

🏢 About the Programme

• Sponsor Organisation: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

🎁 Benefits

• Total Fund Available: £13 million
• Maximum Award per Project: £4.32 million
• Full Economic Cost (FEC): Up to £5.41 million
• EPSRC Contribution: 80% of FEC
• Duration: Up to 36 months

✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for EPSRC funding.
• Teams must include interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary approaches, ideally involving industrial partners.

📅 Application Date and Process

The application process consists of two stages:

Stage One: Intent to Submit (ItS)

• Deadline: 11 December 2025, 4:00 PM UK time
• Applicants must submit a completed Intent to Submit (ItS) form.
• Outline proposals from applicants who have not submitted an ItS will not be considered.

Information Required for ItS:

• Name of project lead
• Name(s) of project co-lead(s) (can change before outline submission deadline)
• Project lead email address
• Project lead UK academic host institution
• Chosen challenge area
• Proposed project draft title
• Funding Service application reference number

Stage One: Outline Submission

To apply:

1. Confirm you are the project lead.
2. Sign in or create a Funding Service account.
   • If your organisation is not listed, email support@funding-service.ukri.org.
   • Allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added.
3. Answer questions directly in the text boxes or work offline and copy-paste your answers.
4. Check your application in "read-only" view before sending it to your research office.
5. Submit the completed application to your research office for final checking.
6. Your research office will submit the application to UKRI.

Visual Elements in Applications:

• Provide descriptive captions for images.
• Use files smaller than 5MB in formats like JPEG, PNG, GIF, etc.
• Avoid including sentences, paragraphs, or tables in images.

📆 Application Deadline

• 15 January 2026

🌐 Application Portal

• View details of the programme on the UKRI Opportunity Page.
• Apply directly via the Funding Service Portal.

For further guidance, refer to the following resources:

• How applicants use the Funding Service
• How research offices use the Funding Service
• How reviewers use the Funding Service

• Total Fund Available: £13 million
• Maximum Award per Project: £4.32 million
• Full Economic Cost (FEC): Up to £5.41 million
• EPSRC Contribution: 80% of FEC
• Duration: Up to 36 months