Deadline: June 16, 2026
Applications are open for the UK Research & Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships 2026. The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme (FLF) aims to develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK. Providing up to seven years of funding, for at least 550 early-career researchers and innovators, the scheme will tackle difficult and novel challenges. It will grow the strong supply of talented individuals needed to ensure that UK research and innovation continue to be world class.
UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships can be held at any UK-based organisation currently registered as eligible to apply to the research councils (for example higher education institutes, research council institutes and eligible independent research organisations) or Innovate UK. Companies or other privately owned research organisations are encouraged to host UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships if they can provide an innovation and/or research environment of international standing.
This funding opportunity 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, business and interdisciplinary boundaries, and facilitate movement of people between sectors
- provide sustained funding and resources for the best early career researchers and innovators
- provide long-term, flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges, and support adventurous, ambitious programmes
Funding
- The total fund is up to £110,000,000.
Eligibility
- Open to Researchers and innovators who are either transitioning to or establishing independence or developing their own original and ambitious plans within a commercial setting. There is no eligibility rules based on whether you currently hold a permanent or open-ended position or job role.
- Fellowships must be held at a UK-based organisation that meets the following criteria:
- a UK-based organisation currently registered as eligible to apply for funding from UKRI
- any non-academic organisation eligible to receive subsidies from the UK government that will provide an innovation or research environment of international standing
- academic-hosted applicants (including NHS trusts) should apply via the UKRI Funding Service and non-academic hosted applicants (including charities) via Innovation Funding Service. Catapults should apply through the Funding Service if eligible, if not they can apply via the Innovation Funding Service
Application
UKRI must receive your application by 16 June 2026 4:00pm UK time. You will not be able to apply after this time.
For more information, visit UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships.
