# Optical Wireless Communications Research and Testing Facility

**Funder:** EPSRC
**Budget:** Up to £7.13M (100% FEC)
**Duration:** 27 months
**Consortium:** Optional — a unified consortium application is encouraged where possible; single-organisation applications are not excluded
**Frequency:** One-off
**Eligible countries:** GB
**Official call:** https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/optical-wireless-communications-research-and-testing-facility/
**Last verified:** 27 July 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Establishes a national optical wireless communications (OWC) research and testing facility. Applicants must be UK-resident, employed at lecturer level or above (or equivalent). Project lead/co-lead must be citizens of Alliance Nations; at least one UK national required in a leadership role. BPSS security checks required for all award team members. Consortium application strongly preferred; postdoctoral fellowship holders are not eligible to apply.

## Summary

EPSRC funds research infrastructure and testing facilities for optical wireless communications, supporting UK-based researchers developing next-generation optical communication systems. This call targets researchers and institutions seeking to establish or upgrade experimental capability in free-space optics, visible light communications, and related technologies.

## Who should apply

- UK-based researchers and research institutions
- Groups working on optical wireless communications, free-space optics, or visible light communications
- Applicants with defined facility or infrastructure requirements
- Projects requiring shared or dedicated experimental testing environments

## Key dates

- First listed 2 April 2026; verify current deadline on EPSRC website

## Tips for applicants

- Clearly specify the experimental capacity and research questions your facility will address, EPSRC panels assess infrastructure utility against research impact.
- Detail the user base and access model; facilities with demonstrated or planned multi-group use score higher than single-team infrastructure.
- Include letters of support from potential users or collaborators to strengthen the case for shared infrastructure.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who can apply for the EPSRC Optical Wireless Communications Research and Testing Facility call?

UK-based researchers and institutions eligible for EPSRC funding are the primary audience for this infrastructure call.

### What research areas does this facility call cover?

The call focuses on optical wireless communications, including free-space optics, visible light communications, and related experimental research platforms.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/epsrc-optical-wireless-communications-research-and-testi-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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