--- title: "FOSTER Programme Industry PhD Support Scheme 2025" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0592c0" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0592c0" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0592c0.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0592c0.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY" published: "2025-09-03" --- # FOSTER Programme Industry PhD Support Scheme 2025 Buyer: UK ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0592c0 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0592c0) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0592c0.json) ## Summary The procurement process for the "FOSTER Programme Industry PhD Support Scheme 2025" is currently in the planning stage, conducted by the UK Atomic Energy Authority, based in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. This initiative falls under the services industry category, specifically research services, and aims to support the fusion industry in the UK. The planned contract period is set to commence on 18th November 2025 and conclude on 17th November 2027. Key dates include a market engagement deadline scheduled for 28th October 2025. The programme intends to enhance the number of PhD opportunities in the UK fusion sector, supported through a tender process that utilises a structured awards scheme. This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those in the education and research sectors, to collaborate with universities in training individuals for the fusion industry. The scheme offers two types of financial awards; two awards of £65,000 are reserved for small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees, aiming to foster innovation and development of fusion-related PhDs. Larger businesses are also encouraged to apply for awards valued at £40,000. This initiative is ideally suited for businesses that can contribute additional funding towards PhD projects and are interested in collaborating with academic institutions to bolster the UK's positioning in fusion research and skills training. ## 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. 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. ### Planning Information https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=97703&B= ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053368-2025 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement 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 | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 3 Sep 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 28 Oct 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 18 Nov 2025 - 17 Nov 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £480,001 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | 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 08:00 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053368-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053368-2025 3rd September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://uk.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/rwlentrance_s.asp?PID=97703&B= - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-atomic-energy-authority - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## 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-0592c0. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0592c0.json.