Tender

FOSTER Programme Industry PhD Support Scheme 2025

UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

03 Sep 2025 at 09:59

Tender Notice
Planning

02 Sep 2025 at 12:02

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Atomic Energy Authority is leading the procurement process for the FOSTER Programme Industry PhD Support Scheme 2025, focusing on the delivery of a national fusion skills programme. This initiative, categorised under research services, aims to prepare individuals for roles within the fusion industry by 2030. The procurement is currently at the planning stage, with a tender ID of T/GW99/25. It is set to take place at the Culham Campus, Oxfordshire, UK. Notably, a future notice date is anticipated on 17th November 2025. A budget of £480,000 has been earmarked for this procurement, which operates under the legal basis of CELEX 32014L0024 and involves services as the main procurement category.

This procurement offers substantial opportunities for business growth by engaging with universities, industry partners, and international collaborators to increase PhD opportunities within the fusion sector. Small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees are particularly encouraged to apply, as two awards of £65,000 each are specially reserved for them. Other eligible applicants can contend for additional awards valued at £40,000 each. The PhD topics should be broadly relevant to the UK fusion sector, enhancing the marketability and applicability of findings across various devices. Businesses already collaborating with universities on PhD projects experiencing financial challenges are also eligible for consideration, further promoting innovation and partnerships in the sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

FOSTER Programme Industry PhD Support Scheme 2025

Notice Description

The Fusion Opportunities in Skills, Training, Education and Research (FOSTER) programme is an ambitious national fusion skills programme delivered by UKAEA on behalf of the UK fusion sector. FOSTER's mission is to train over 2000 people by 2030, ready to take roles within the fusion industry.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Fusion Opportunities in Skills, Training, Education and Research (FOSTER) programme is an ambitious national fusion skills programme delivered by UKAEA on behalf of the UK fusion sector. FOSTER's mission is to train over 2000 people by 2030, ready to take roles within the fusion industry. The intention is to work with universities, businesses, and international partners to increase the number of apprentice and graduate, postgraduate and doctoral, and post-doctoral opportunities within the fusion skills ecosystem in the UK. One mechanism being used to support an increase in PhD numbers is through the FOSTER Programme's Industry PhD Support Scheme Awards. These Awards will contribute a fixed sum towards the cost of a fusion related PhD in a UK university that commences by 31st December 2026. There are two tiers of award values available under this initiative: 2 awards of PS65,000 are designated specifically for small businesses (less than 50 full-time employees), while the remaining awards are valued at PS40,000 and are open to all eligible applicants. The application form must detail the full cost of the project and show how the remaining balance of funding will be provided. PhD topics should be beneficial to the wider UK fusion sector i.e. not only relevant to one specific fusion device. PhD projects that are already underway, as collaborations between a university and an industry partner, but experiencing existential financial difficulties may also be proposed for consideration.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05921a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053444-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£480,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY
Contact Name
Jonny Adams
Contact Email
jonny.adams@ukaea.uk
Contact Phone
+12 35528822

Buyer Location

Locality
OXFORDSHIRE
Postcode
OX14 3DB
Post Town
Oxford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Oxfordshire
Electoral Ward
Sandford & the Wittenhams
Westminster Constituency
Didcot and Wantage

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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