UK Research & Innovation Futures Leaders Fellowships 2026 (With up to £110,000,000 in Funding)

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About UK Research & Innovation Futures Leaders Fellowships

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 help 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 envirorinment of international standing.

• Sponsor Organisation: UK Research and Innovation

Benefits of UK Research & Innovation Futures Leaders Fellowships

• The total fund is up to £110,000,000

UK Research & Innovation Futures Leaders Fellowships Requirements

• Open to Researchers and innovators who are either transitioning to or  establishing independence or developing their own original and ambiotious 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 Date and Process

• Click on the link to the application website to apply.

Application Deadline

16 February, 2026

Scholarship Application Portal

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