UK Research and Innovation: Future leaders fellowships

29/02/2024

18/06/2024

UK Research and Innovation, together with the research councils, invites outline proposals for its future leaders fellowships. These enable early-career researchers and innovators to transition to or establish their research or innovation independence in any area supported by UKRI. There is no limit to the amount of funding you can request under this scheme, but requests must be appropriate to the project and you must be able to justify the amount you need to meet the objectives of your proposal. The Future Leaders Fellowships scheme has funded fellowships from £300,000 to over £2 million, and there is no preference for lower or higher cost proposals. (Forecasted date for next year's call).

The scheme aims to: •develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK; •foster new research and innovation career paths including those at the academic or business and interdisciplinary boundaries, and facilitate movement of people between sectors; •provide sustained funding and resources for early-career researchers and innovators; •provide long-term, flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges, and support adventurous, ambitious programmes.

Eligibility Note Applicants do not need to hold a PhD and there are no eligibility rules based on the number of years since the PhD. However, if they do not hold a PhD, they must be able to demonstrate equivalent research or innovation experience or training. There are no eligibility rules based on whether applicants currently hold a permanent or open-ended academic position or job role. The fellowship offers flexibility to support outstanding individuals: from diverse career backgrounds; returning from a career break or returning to research or innovation following time in other roles; wishing to work part-time or in job shares in order to combine the fellowship with personal responsibilities; coming to the UK from abroad. Applicants coming from abroad are eligible under the global talent visa, but they must have support from their host organisation. Senior academics and innovators are not permitted to apply. Fellowships must be held at a UK-based organisation currently registered as eligible to apply for funding from the research councils. These may be any UK HEI that receives grant funding from one of the UK higher education funding bodies, a research institute or an independent research organisation. Cross sector and organisational links, and research and innovation collaborations in both the UK and internationally, are encouraged. Co-investigators are allowed, but their inclusion must be fully justified.