Up to £3 Million for Future Research & Innovation Leaders – UKRI

The Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11 – Business and Non-Academic competition provides long-term funding for talented researchers and innovators to establish themselves as independent leaders while delivering ambitious research or innovation with meaningful benefits for the UK.

Here’s what you can expect:

• £100,000–£3 million per fellowship

• Up to £110 million available across Future Leaders Fellowships Round 11

• At least four years of funding, with the potential to extend for a further three years

• Funding for ambitious research and innovation programmes

• Support for the Fellow's professional and leadership development

• Projects can cover all areas of research and innovation

• This includes technology, business, creative industries, culture, services, arts, humanities and social sciences

• Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary projects are welcomed

• Industrial research can receive up to 70% of eligible costs for micro/small organisations, 60% for medium organisations and 50% for large organisations

• Experimental development can receive up to 45%, 35% and 25% respectively

• Non-economic work by eligible charities, nonprofits, RTOs and public-sector organisations can receive up to 100% of eligible costs.

Who can apply?

• UK-registered businesses of any size

• Charities

• Not-for-profit organisations

• Public-sector organisations

• Agri-tech centres

• Other eligible research organisations, subject to the appropriate application route

• The proposed Fellow must demonstrate the skills and experience to lead an ambitious research or innovation programme

• A PhD is not required

• There is no eligibility rule based on the number of years since gaining a PhD

• Researchers and innovators from outside the UK can participate with an eligible UK host organisation

• Applicants from diverse career backgrounds and people returning after career breaks are specifically welcomed

• Fellows can work part-time or through an approved job-share arrangement.

UKRI says similar competitions suggest applicants could have around a 13% chance of success, so this is a highly competitive programme.

Deadline: 4 November 2026 at 11:00am UK time.