EPSRC Prosperity Partnerships

Future Leaders Fellowships Round 11

Supports independent research career transitions in the United Kingdom through fellowships combining academic and non-academic hosts.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) Round 11 is a cross-UKRI programme with a total fund of £110 million, open to researchers and innovators who are establishing or transitioning to independence. EPSRC co-delivers the scheme for applicants working in engineering and physical sciences alongside other UKRI councils covering medicine, biological sciences, arts and humanities, environment, and social sciences. Awards run for up to seven years — four years initially, with renewal for a further three years subject to review — and UKRI funds 80% of full economic cost. Historical awards have ranged from approximately £300,000 to over £2 million, reflecting the wide variation in research cost profiles across disciplines. The application window for Round 11 closes 16 June 2026 at 4:00pm UK time.

Eligibility is tightly defined around career stage: applicants must be researchers or innovators who have not yet established full independence. Anyone who already holds or has held an independent research group, senior professorship, or equivalent position is explicitly excluded. Host organisations must be UK-based and UKRI-eligible. Academic-hosted applicants apply via the UKRI Funding Service; non-academic-hosted applicants (including those based at companies or charities) must use the Innovation Funding Service instead. Each fellowship funds the applicant's salary at up to 100% full-time equivalent — typically, academic-hosted fellows may spend up to six hours per week on activities outside the fellowship — plus direct research costs.

Round 11 is one of the largest single rounds UKRI has run for early-career researchers. Successful applicants gain independence, dedicated research funding, and the institutional backing needed to launch a major research programme. Reviewers assess track record relative to career stage, the originality and feasibility of the proposed research programme, and the quality of the host organisation's support plan. Non-academic applicants proposing innovation-focused programmes compete on the same criteria but are assessed through Innovate UK processes.