--- title: "FOSTER Programme Industry PhD Support Scheme 2025" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05921a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05921a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05921a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05921a.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY" published: "2025-09-03" --- # FOSTER Programme Industry PhD Support Scheme 2025 Buyer: UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05921a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05921a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05921a.json) ## Summary 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. ## Notice 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053444-2025 | | 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 | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 3 Sep 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 17 Nov 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £480,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY | | Locality | OXFORDSHIRE | | Post town | Oxford | | Postcode | OX14 3DB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | | ITL 3 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC | | Local authority | South Oxfordshire | | Electoral ward | Sandford & the Wittenhams | | Westminster constituency | Didcot and Wantage | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73110000 - Research services ## Release History - 3 Sep 2025 at 09:59 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053444-2025 - 2 Sep 2025 at 12:02 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053134-2025 ## Notice URLs - https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=97676&B=UKAEA - https://uk.eu-supply.com/ctm/Company/CompanyInformation/Index/72814 - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05921a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05921a.json.