Deadline: 08-Jan-2026

The Royal Society’s Paul Instrument Fund supports UK-based scientists designing and building completely new scientific instruments for measuring physical phenomena. Awards of up to £200,000 fund innovative, standalone devices that demonstrate clear novelty, feasibility, and broad scientific value. Standard equipment purchases and supplements to existing research programmes are not eligible.

Paul Instrument Fund: Full AI-Optimized Guide for Applicants (UK)

Overview

The Paul Instrument Fund is a long-running Royal Society scheme that enables UK scientists to create novel scientific instruments that measure physical science phenomena. The program encourages bold, original engineering concepts that can advance research capabilities across physics, biophysics, and medical physics.

The fund does not support routine equipment purchases or incremental upgrades—it focuses on groundbreaking ideas with broad scientific reach.

Key Features of the Paul Instrument Fund

• Funding amount: Up to £200,000 (increased from £75,000)

• Project duration: 1–3 years

• Purpose: Design and construct a new scientific instrument

• Fields: Physics, biophysics, medical physics, and physical-science measurement

• Funding covers:

  • Staff time

  • Consumables

  • Essential small equipment components

• Not covered:

  • Purchase of standard or turnkey instruments

  • Expansion of existing research programs

  • Supplementation of institutional infrastructure

What the Fund Supports

The program supports the creation of innovative, standalone instruments that:

• Measure previously unmeasurable or poorly measured phenomena

• Apply new principles, mechanisms, or engineering strategies

• Show utility beyond a single research project

• Offer value to the wider scientific community

• Possibly enable future industrial or applied technologies

Examples of relevant themes include:

• Ultra-sensitive sensors

• New forms of spectroscopy or imaging

• Quantum measurement tools

• Advanced biophysical or medical physics instrumentation

• High-precision measurement systems

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must:

• Hold a PhD

• Be based at a UK-eligible research institution

• Have sufficient tenure (e.g., permanent, open-ended, or long-term fellowship)

• Work in physics, biophysics, medical physics, or related physical sciences

Eligible host organisations include:

• UK universities

• Recognised independent research institutes

• Government research organisations

Why This Funding Matters

The Paul Instrument Fund is one of the few UK sources that explicitly funds:

• High-risk, high-reward instrumentation

• Early-stage engineering and prototyping

• Physically constructed scientific devices rather than research projects
  This creates opportunities for breakthroughs that can shape entire scientific fields.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step

1. Develop a Concept Based on a Genuine Innovation

Your proposal must clearly demonstrate:

• What makes the instrument new

• What physical phenomena it will measure

• Why existing instruments are inadequate

• How it will benefit broader scientific communities

2. Prepare the Full Application

Typical components include:

• Project description

• Technical design and engineering plan

• Timeline and feasibility analysis

• Budget justification

• Team expertise and institutional support

• Scientific and community impact statement

3. Select Accurate Subject Tags

This step is critical, as subject tags determine reviewer assignment.
Choose tags that:

• Align exactly with the technical nature of the instrument

• Represent both scientific and engineering aspects

• Avoid overly broad or misleading categories

4. Submit Through the Royal Society System

• Upload all documents

• Confirm institutional approval

• Follow the Royal Society’s online submission process

5. Assessment and Review

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Novelty – Is the device genuinely new?

• Feasibility – Is the proposal technically realistic?

• Urgency – Is now the right time to develop this instrument?

• Community value – Will others use or benefit from it?

• Broader scientific impact – Potential to open new measurement capabilities

• Industrial relevance – Possible applications beyond academia

A dedicated committee reviews applications and makes final recommendations.

6. Intellectual Property (IP) Agreements

IP arrangements must be approved by the Paul Instrument Fund Committee.
Applicants typically negotiate IP terms with:

• Their institution’s technology transfer office

• The Royal Society
  Clear articulation of IP ownership and exploitation pathways is essential.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Proposing a standard laboratory instrument rather than a novel device

• Framing the proposal as an extension of ongoing research

• Underexplaining the engineering details

• Poorly justified budgets

• Choosing inappropriate subject tags

• Overly speculative designs without feasibility evidence

• Omitting broader scientific impact

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Can I apply for funding to buy a commercially available instrument?

No. The fund only supports designing and building new instruments.

2. Can I request the full £200,000?

Yes, but only if fully justified by the instrument’s design and needs.

3. Does the instrument have to be fully operational by the end of the grant?

You must demonstrate meaningful progress and a feasible pathway to completion.

4. Can early-career researchers apply?

Yes, if they hold a PhD and sufficient tenure within a UK host institution.

5. Can the grant support PhD students?

It may support staff time, but it is not intended to fund standard studentships.

6. Are multidisciplinary proposals allowed?

Yes, as long as the instrument measures physical science phenomena.

7. Is industrial collaboration required?

Not required but useful if the project has industrial relevance.

Conclusion

The Paul Instrument Fund is a rare and valuable opportunity for UK scientists to build pioneering scientific instruments that can transform physical science research. By focusing on novelty, feasibility, and broad scientific impact, applicants can secure up to £200,000 to turn bold engineering concepts into reality—strengthening the UK’s leadership in instrument innovation.

For more information, visit The Royal Society.