Deadline: 05-Aug-2026
The Innovation Fellowships 2026–27 Route B Policy-led Programme supports humanities and social sciences researchers to work with government and policy partners for 12 months. The fellowship provides funding of up to £150,000 at 100% Full Economic Costing, with up to £120,000 funded at 80% by the British Academy.
Overview
The programme enables researchers to collaborate directly with policy partners and contribute to evidence-based policy development.
Fellows work on policy-relevant activities, knowledge exchange, evidence analysis, and engagement between academia and government.
The detailed work programme is developed jointly with the selected policy partner after the award is confirmed, allowing the fellowship to respond to current policy needs.
Key Details
- Programme: Innovation Fellowships 2026–27 Route B Policy-led Programme
- Field: Humanities and social sciences
- Duration: 12 months
- Funding model: Full Economic Costing
- Maximum award: £150,000 at 100% FEC
- British Academy contribution: Up to £120,000 at 80% FEC
- Eligible applicants: UK-based early- and mid-career researchers
- Fellowship commitment: 0.4–0.8 FTE
- Independent researchers: Not eligible
- Prior Route B award holders: Not eligible
Focus Areas
The programme focuses on:
- Evidence-based policy development
- Academic-policy collaboration
- Humanities and social sciences research
- Government engagement
- Policy analysis
- Knowledge exchange
- Cross-institutional collaboration
- Research communication
- Digital outputs
- Collaborative workshops
- Public policy impact
Key Concepts Explained
What is Route B Policy-led?
Route B is a policy-led fellowship route where researchers work with specified government or policy partners. The work programme is shaped with the partner after award confirmation.
What is Full Economic Costing?
Full Economic Costing is a funding model that calculates the full cost of a research activity. Under this programme, awards may be up to £150,000 at 100% FEC, with the British Academy funding up to 80%.
What is Knowledge Exchange?
Knowledge exchange means sharing research, evidence, methods, and expertise between researchers and policy partners to inform decision-making and improve policy outcomes.
What is FTE?
FTE means full-time equivalent. Applicants must commit between 0.4 and 0.8 FTE of their contracted time to the fellowship.
Who is Eligible?
Applicants must:
- Be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.
- Hold a long-term appointment at a UK Higher Education Institution or Independent Research Organisation.
- Have an appointment that continues for the full award period.
- Be an early- or mid-career researcher, typically within 15 years of PhD award.
- Commit 0.4–0.8 FTE of contracted time.
- Meet partner-specific security clearance and nationality requirements.
- Have expertise in humanities or social sciences.
Allowances may be made for career breaks and non-linear career paths.
Who is Not Eligible?
The following are not eligible:
- Independent researchers without a long-term UK HEI or IRO appointment
- Applicants whose contracts would need to be extended using fellowship funding
- Prior Route B award holders
- Applicants unable to meet security clearance or nationality requirements where applicable
What the Funding Can Support
Funding may support directly incurred costs linked to the fellowship, including:
- Travel and subsistence
- Collaborative workshops
- Knowledge exchange activities
- Digital outputs
- Project-related engagement costs
- Other eligible costs supporting collaboration with policy partners
How the Programme Works
Step 1: Application and Selection
Researchers apply with relevant expertise and proposed alignment to the policy-led fellowship opportunity.
Step 2: Award Confirmation
If selected, the fellowship award is confirmed.
Step 3: Joint Work Programme Development
The fellow and policy partner jointly develop the detailed work programme after award confirmation.
Step 4: Fellowship Delivery
The fellow works with the partner for 12 months, contributing research expertise, evidence analysis, and policy engagement.
Step 5: Knowledge Exchange and Outputs
The fellowship may produce workshops, policy insights, digital outputs, briefings, and other engagement activities.
Why It Matters
The programme helps strengthen the connection between research and public policy.
It matters because it:
- Supports evidence-informed policy development.
- Brings humanities and social sciences expertise into government and policy settings.
- Builds collaboration between academia and policymakers.
- Strengthens researcher understanding of policy environments.
- Supports practical knowledge exchange.
- Encourages interdisciplinary and cross-institutional work.
- Helps translate research into public value.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying without a qualifying UK institutional appointment.
- Applying as an independent researcher.
- Ignoring the 0.4–0.8 FTE commitment requirement.
- Assuming fellowship funds can extend contracts.
- Overlooking security clearance or nationality requirements.
- Applying if they previously held a Route B award.
- Providing weak evidence of policy engagement capacity.
- Failing to show humanities or social sciences relevance.
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Clearly show policy relevance.
- Demonstrate strong humanities or social sciences expertise.
- Explain experience working with evidence and stakeholders.
- Show ability to collaborate across institutions.
- Highlight communication and knowledge exchange skills.
- Demonstrate flexibility to work with policy partner priorities.
- Clarify FTE commitment and institutional support.
- Address security or eligibility requirements where relevant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Innovation Fellowships Route B Policy-led Programme?
It is a 12-month fellowship that enables humanities and social sciences researchers to collaborate with government and policy partners on evidence-based policy work.
How much funding is available?
Awards are available up to £150,000 at 100% Full Economic Costing, with up to £120,000 funded at 80% by the British Academy.
Who can apply?
UK-resident early- and mid-career researchers with long-term appointments at UK Higher Education Institutions or Independent Research Organisations may apply.
Are independent researchers eligible?
No. Independent researchers without a qualifying institutional appointment are not eligible.
How much time must fellows commit?
Applicants must commit between 0.4 and 0.8 FTE of their contracted time.
Can fellowship funding be used to extend contracts?
No. Applicants must already hold an appointment that continues for the duration of the award.
Are previous Route B award holders eligible?
No. Prior Route B award holders are not eligible.
Conclusion
The Innovation Fellowships 2026–27 Route B Policy-led Programme gives early- and mid-career humanities and social sciences researchers a structured opportunity to work with policy partners for 12 months. By supporting evidence analysis, knowledge exchange, and collaboration with government, the fellowship helps strengthen the role of research in public policy development.
For more information, visit The British Academy.