Innovate UK Catalyst Talent
Supports entrepreneurial talent in the United Kingdom through business-hosted pathways from research to commercialisation.
Future Leaders Fellowships Round 11 is part of UKRI’s fellowship landscape for researchers and innovators who are moving toward or consolidating independence, and it spans multiple UKRI councils rather than a single-sector portfolio. The round is funded with £110 million, opens 2 February 2026 and closes 16 June 2026. Awards are structured for up to seven years (typically four years with a possible three-year extension), with a soft cap of up to £1.4 million and UKRI paying the majority of full economic cost. Applicants require a UK host registered with UKRI, with non-academic UK hosts routed through the Innovation Funding Service while academic hosts use the UKRI Funding Service. The strongest fit is institutions supporting independence-track researchers with a clear host arrangement, particularly within the Innovate UK route where applicable.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: .