EPSRC is funding the creation of a high quality NetworkPlus to underpin new academic and business partnerships within the financial services sector. A total fund of £2.5m is available.
Read the full competition announcement
The following financial services sectors will be eligible:
- FinTech
- regulatory technology (RegTech)
- insurance
- regulation
- accounting
- business banking
- investment banking
- life assurance and pensions
- retail banking.
The network is expected to involve collaboration with project partners from the user-focused financial services sector; identify and address data-centric, quantitative, technological and ‘real-world’ research challenges; help form new research communities and fund feasibility studies and network building activities.
This call aims to build new connections between UK academia and the Fintech sector and provides support for feasibility studies. Although it also aims to create a national network it is envisaged that it will be UK-wide, drawing on existing, or developing, regional strengths.
Although businesses cannot directly submit an application, they can partner with eligible EPSRC bodies, ie UK higher education institutions, research council institutes, UKRI-approved independent research organisations, eligible public sector research establishments, NHS bodies with research capacity.
The closing date for applications is 9 November 2021.