Grant opportunity
Open-Source Semiconductor Security Platform Development
Advance notice of funding to develop an open-source hardware-security research platform for secure semiconductor design, testing and assurance.
- Funder
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
- Pre-announcement published 21 August 2026; opening and closing dates to be confirmed
- Pre-announcement published 21 August 2026; opening and closing dates to be confirmed
- Award
- GBP 240,000 per award from a GBP 2.5 million programme fund
- Applicant
- UK research organisations eligible for EPSRC funding; full team and institutional rules will be confirmed when the call opens.
- Discipline
- Semiconductor Engineering and Hardware Security
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Posted
- Aug 22, 2026
Call summary
Overview
EPSRC and BIST plan to support an open research platform that strengthens UK capability in secure hardware design, evaluation and assurance.
Who can apply
Applicants should use the pre-announcement for planning only and confirm the final organisational, investigator and consortium rules when the full call is released.
What it supports
- Open-source semiconductor research
- Hardware security
- Design and testing infrastructure
- Security assurance
Funding and duration
- GBP 240,000 award indicated
- GBP 2.5 million total programme fund
Pre-announcement published 21 August 2026; opening and closing dates to be confirmed
Pre-announcement published 21 August 2026; opening and closing dates to be confirmed
How to apply
Monitor the official UKRI page and prepare relevant partnerships; submit only after the full opportunity and Funding Service route are published.
Call details
Source-based overview
This is a pre-announcement rather than an open competition. Dates and detailed assessment requirements remain to be confirmed on the official UKRI page.
Eligibility
Applicants should use the pre-announcement for planning only and confirm the final organisational, investigator and consortium rules when the full call is released.
Funding and benefits
GBP 240,000 award indicated
GBP 2.5 million total programme fund
Themes and supported activities
Open-source semiconductor research
Hardware security
Design and testing infrastructure
Security assurance
Deadline and timeline
Pre-announcement published 21 August 2026; opening and closing dates to be confirmed: Pre-announcement published 21 August 2026; opening and closing dates to be confirmed.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Monitor the official UKRI page and prepare relevant partnerships; submit only after the full opportunity and Funding Service route are published.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.