STFC Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP)

STFC Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP)

Supports invited large-scale United Kingdom particle, astronomy, and nuclear projects through STFC Projects Peer Review Panel, a route for complex funding.

The STFC Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP) 2026 is an invited-submission funding mechanism operated by the Science and Technology Facilities Council to support large or complex projects within the Particle Physics, Astronomy, and Nuclear Physics (PPAN) programme. The PPRP route is used when project scale, risk, or technical complexity warrants dedicated panel scrutiny rather than standard consolidated grant assessment. STFC funds 80% of full economic cost, with the applicant's institution covering the remaining 20%.

Access to the PPRP is restricted: only applicants who successfully passed a Statement of Interest (SoI) stage are permitted to submit a full proposal. The 2026 round opened in September 2025 and closes in August 2026. Eligible scope spans particle physics, nuclear physics, astronomy, particle astrophysics, accelerator physics, and computing activities within the PPAN programme. Project studentships are explicitly excluded from this route. Eligible applicants are UK universities and research organisations holding STFC eligibility. Assessment typically takes six to nine months from submission to outcome, with a dedicated PPRP panel conducting the evaluation.

The PPRP mechanism exists to fund projects that cannot be accommodated within the standard two- or four-year consolidated grants envelope — typically large infrastructure contributions, new detector R&D programmes, or major facility developments. Groups considering this route should have already completed the SoI stage and received an invitation to submit. The extended assessment timeline means applicants should plan for funding decisions roughly a year after the close of the submission window, making early engagement with STFC programme managers advisable.