Research Challenges / Challenge Two
Case Study #2
Challenge Case Study 2: Funding Call
Summary
Introduction | |
| Re-imagining Design Processes for Circularity in Electric Motors | |
We have optimised how we build products, but not how we take them apart The transition to electric mobility in the UK is no longer a future ambition; it is already happening at scale. With millions of electric vehicles now on the road and rapid growth expected over the next decade, a new challenge is emerging: what happens when these systems reach the end of their lifecycle? At the heart of this challenge are electric motors. These are not just mechanical components but complex systems containing high-value, critical materials such as rare-earth magnets, copper, and specialised steels. Yet, despite their importance, most are designed for efficient assembly rather than disassembly. This makes them difficult to repair, remanufacture, or recycle, resulting in the loss of valuable materials and missed opportunities for circularity. The ChallengeThis Challenge Case Study 2 invites participants to re-imagine the design process itself, using digital technologies to enable a new generation of circular socio-technical engineering systems. Rather than focusing solely on improving the product, the challenge is to explore how design workflows can be transformed to embed circularity from the very beginning. Using electric motors as a representative system (“canvas”), participants are encouraged to develop approaches that demonstrate how the design process can become: * Faster, by accelerating exploration and iteration through digital tools such as simulation, AI, and generative design. A central aspect of the challenge is Design for Disassembly, ensuring that systems can be taken apart efficiently to support maintenance, reuse, remanufacture, and material recovery. | |
Application Details
Closing Date – 4PM 21st April 2026
Challenge Period – Commences 1st June 2026
Max Award – £14,000 FEC
ACTIVITY
DATE
Information webinar
Closing date for applications
Successful Applicants Notified
Challenge Period
Workshop 3
30th March 11 am – 12 noon 2026 register here
EXTENDED DEADLINE 1 May 2026
WKC 11 May 2026
From 1st June to 30 November 2026
1st & 2nd December 2026
What we're looking for
We are seeking innovative, interdisciplinary teams that can demonstrate how improved digital design processes will enable DfMAD that is Faster, Better and with less. This may include developing new tools, methods, or workflows, or integrating existing technologies into a coherent design process. The emphasis is on creating an integrated digital design approach in which different technologies and methods work together to support lifecycle-aware decision-making. Solutions may draw on areas such as digital twins, simulation, AI, generative design, data integration, or Digital Product Passports. The focus should be on how these capabilities come together to enable circular design.
Applications from Universities outside of the four core partners are particularly encouraged.
Click here to apply
What we will fund
The call is open to all UK academics whose institutions are eligible to receive EPSRC funding. Funding allocation criteria will prioritise Early-Career Researchers (ECR) with high-quality ideas from a variety of disciplines. Approximately 15 awards are available.
Conditions of funding include:
- Up to £14,000 at 80% FEC (funding = £11,200) to cover academic staff time, consumables and travel.
- Funding for Research Assistant time, PhD students, or equipment is not available.
- Budgets should include costs of attending a two-day network workshop to be held in Sheffield, on 1st and 2nd December 2026.
Eligibility
The call is open to all UK academics whose institutions are eligible to receive EPSRC funding. Due to the responsibilities of the role candidates should ideally be mid-career and should not be at Professorial level.
How to apply
Applicants are invited to submit a short application including a CV, relevant outputs, and a brief statement outlining their experience, proposed contribution, and approach to digital design for circularity. Further details and the application form are available here.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
D2N+ is fully committed to supporting and promoting EDI in all its practices and activities. We aim to establish an inclusive environment and welcome diverse applications from all protected characteristics. We particularly encourage applications from women, as this cohort is under-represented in engineering across academia and industry.
Terms & conditions of the award
Successful applications will be required to enter into a legal binding agreement with Queen’s University Belfast that will incorporate the UK Research and Innovation standard terms and conditions of the grant.
GDPR
The data you provide will be utilized and deleted in alignment with GDPR requirements.
Contact
Applicants are asked to consult their university’s research office ahead of submitting a proposal to this call, to be clear of the requirements for meeting the deadlines set out in this document. The award is contractually and financially from Queen’s University Belfast to the University in question.
If you have further questions, please e-mail: digitaldesignnetwork@qub.ac.uk
You can also contact the two project co-leads at:
Ejae Perez – e.perez@amrc.co.uk
Maryam Farsi – maryam.farsi@cranfield.ac.uk
Applications must be submitted by 4pm 21st April 2026. The D2N+ team will acknowledge receipt of each application.