UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships

Future Leaders Fellowships Round 11 — Industry Track

Supports United Kingdom non-academic organisations in developing independent innovation programmes through UKRI Future Leaders Industry fellowships.

The Future Leaders Fellowships Round 11 — Industry Track is a UKRI programme supporting innovators based in non-academic organisations — including businesses, public-sector bodies, charities, and third-sector organisations — who are ready to lead their own research or innovation programme. The fellowship is part of the same £110 million Round 11 pool shared with the academic track, with per-award funding historically ranging from £300,000 to over £2 million. UKRI funds 80% of full economic cost, and the host organisation covers the remaining 20%.

The industry track is open to any non-academic organisation eligible to receive UK government subsidies, provided it can offer an innovation or research environment of international standing. The applicant must be developing original and ambitious plans within a commercial or non-academic setting. Universities are directed to the academic track. Fellowships run for four years initially and may be renewed for a further three years. Applications for the industry track open on 22 June 2026 and close on 4 November 2026 at 11:00 am UK time; submissions go through Innovate UK's Innovation Funding Service, not the UKRI Funding Service used by the academic track.

The assessment process mirrors the academic track: independent expert review, applicant response, shortlisting panel, and a final interview in the week commencing 17 May 2027, with decisions within eight weeks. Businesses applying should demonstrate a credible plan for how the fellowship will establish a durable innovation capability within the organisation, and should confirm the organisation meets the international research environment standard before investing in an application. The explicit welcome for charities and social-sector innovators broadens eligibility beyond purely commercial organisations.