Feasibility Studies

ROUND B OPEN NOW – Apply before midday, 27 April 2026

Approach: 

The 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. The DICE Network+ has an ambitious approach with a desire to create impact and meaningful change within the sector.

Areas of focus: 

We are seeking studies that are innovative, evidence based, applied and appreciate the need for a whole system approach. The feasibility study should result in increased confidence in the proof of concept developed, which then has potential to attract further prioritisation and investment in the area. Applications should include or be led by an early career academic and should involve at least one industrial, third sector or government partner to ensure real world application and impact.​

The DICE Network+ is simultaneously addressing two interrelated challenge areas. 

Embed: Embedding sustainability and circularity within the design of digital and communication technologies.

Enable: Realising the potential of the digital revolution, including advances in digital processes, to enable a circular economy.

We have identified specific areas of research focus which are highlighted below (noting these are not exhaustive) with example projects detailed in the Overview document which can be downloaded below: 

Data Centres: Material intensity & e‑waste

Space: Extending use & end‑of‑life recovery of critical raw materials

Semi‑conductors: Component manufacturing & substitution

Telecoms: Consumer device take back & end‑of‑life materials (e.g., fibre‑optic cable)

Renewables: Extending use & end‑of‑life recovery of critical raw materials

Application of funds:  

The sum awarded can include both directly incurred and directly allocated costs, covering investigator/ researcher time, travel and subsistence appropriate to delivery of the project, and consumables.  

The total fund available per project is £50,000 (at 80% FEC).

The duration of each individual project can be between 6 and 9 months from date of award. 

As the grant holder, University of Exeter is responsible for allocating funding to successful proposals and will reimburse the lead institution at 80% fEC. The lead institution must be willing to provide the remaining 20% fEC. Applications where a portion of the project costs are met by industry funding are also welcomed.