Flexible Funds
The DICE Network+ has an ambitious approach with a desire to create impact and meaningful change within the sector. One of the key opportunities within the network is access to flexible funding to accelerate wider research into specific challenge areas at the interface of digital technologies and circular economy.
Flexible funds are available for Knowledge Exchange Placements, Feasibility Studies and Demonstrators, totalling a value of £450,000 (available at 80% fEC).
Our first call for Knowledge Exchange Placements and the first round of Feasibility Studies open in May 2025, with the Demonstrator call scheduled for early 2026. Join the webinar for interested parties on 10 July 2025, covering all elements of Flexible Fund application guidance – sign up here.
Three funding opportunities
Knowledge Exchange Placements
As part of our focus on engaging Early Careers Researchers, the Knowledge Exchange Placements are designed to support interdisciplinary collaboration of academic, industry and network partners across the UK, promoting the adoption of a digitally enabled circular economy.
Feasibility Studies
This Feasibility Study Call provides the opportunity to undertake speculative and potentially high-impact research to accelerate innovative solutions that promote the adoption of a digitally enabled circular economy.
Demonstrators
Through demonstrators, research teams have opportunity to further develop their feasibility knowledge into a minimum viable product or service by developing a demonstrator model. This can help make outcomes of research attractive to the market, accelerating the adoption of a digitally enabled circular economy.
10 July 2025: Flexible Fund Application Guidance webinar
Join us online to discuss the funding opportunities available as part of the DICE Network+ including:
Feasibility Study Funding: providing the opportunity to undertake speculative and potentially high-impact research to accelerate innovative solutions that promote the adoption of a digitally enabled circular economy.
Knowledge Exchange Placements: designed to support interdisciplinary collaboration of academic, industry and network partners across the UK, promoting the adoption of a digitally enabled circular economy.
Learn more from our team about the application process and assessment criteria, with opportunity for Q&A to have your questions answered. Don’t miss out!
Sign up here >Launched in January 2025, the Digital Innovation and Circular Economy (DICE) Network+ is an EPSRC-funded, three-year programme that seeks to leverage the digitalisation of industry to foster a circular economy across sectors and value chains for digital and communication technologies. Our Network+ comprises eleven investigators from nine UK universities, along with a breadth of academic, industry and policy partners.
