Call for Applications: Enterprise Fellowships Program 2026 (UK)

The Enterprise Fellowships programme supports entrepreneurial engineers and researchers who are developing innovative engineering and technology solutions with commercial potential. The programme provides up to £75,000 funding, business training, mentoring, coaching, and access to an entrepreneurial network to help transform research innovations into successful market-based ventures.

Overview of the Enterprise Fellowships Programme

The Enterprise Fellowships programme supports engineers and researchers who want to turn innovative engineering solutions into businesses that create public and economic value.

The programme is designed for individuals who have developed promising engineering or technology innovations and want to commercialise their research through a spinout company.

It provides a combination of:

Financial support.
Entrepreneurship training.
Business coaching.
Founder mentoring.
Commercialisation guidance.
Access to a long-term innovation network.

Purpose and Objectives of the Fellowship

The main goal of the Enterprise Fellowships programme is to support engineering innovation and help researchers become successful technology entrepreneurs.

The programme aims to:

Encourage excellence in engineering.
Bring engineering innovations from research into the marketplace.
Increase public benefit from engineering discoveries.
Develop entrepreneurial skills among engineers.
Create future role models in engineering entrepreneurship.
Build a strong network of innovation leaders through the Enterprise Hub.

What Does the Enterprise Fellowship Support?

The programme supports engineers who have developed:

Innovative engineering technologies.
Research-based solutions.
Commercially promising inventions.
Technology products with market potential.

Supported innovations should have the potential to create real-world impact through commercialisation.

Funding and Fellowship Benefits

Successful Enterprise Fellows receive a comprehensive support package.

Benefits include:

Financial Grant

Awardees can receive:

Up to £75,000

The grant helps support activities required to develop and commercialise the innovation.

Entrepreneurship Training

Fellows receive:

15 days of business and entrepreneurship training.
Practical learning focused on building successful ventures.

Business Coaching

Awardees receive:

Six months of business coaching.
Guidance on commercial strategy, company development, and market preparation.

Founder Mentoring

Participants receive:

12 months of mentoring from an experienced entrepreneur or founder.

Enterprise Hub Membership

Successful fellows receive:

Lifetime membership of the Enterprise Hub.
Access to a network of entrepreneurs, advisors, and innovation experts.

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is open to entrepreneurial engineers and researchers at different academic career stages.

Eligible applicants include:

PhD students.
Early-career researchers.
Senior researchers.
Professors.
Research directors.

Applicants must:

Conduct research at a UK higher education institution or Irish university.
Be directly employed by the institution throughout the award period.
Take a leading role in commercialising the technology.

Innovation Requirements

Applicants must have developed an engineering or technology innovation that meets the following requirement:

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 or above.

This means the technology should have progressed beyond early research stages and demonstrated some level of validation or practical development.

The innovation should have clear potential for commercial application.

Commercialisation and Spinout Requirements

The programme supports technologies that will be commercialised through a spinout company.

Requirements include:

The hosting institution must support creation of a spinout.
The Enterprise Fellow must take a leading executive role.
The fellow should act as CEO, COO, or equivalent business leader.
The lead applicant must hold the highest individual equity stake.

The institution may hold a larger overall share of the company, but the applicant must maintain the largest individual ownership position.

Host Institution Requirements

The applicant’s university or research institution must:

Support commercialisation of the technology.
Employ the applicant throughout the award period.
Provide institutional commitment to the spinout process.

The institution should not normally own more than 50% of the spinout unless additional private investment beyond standard university support can be demonstrated.

Why This Fellowship Matters

Many innovative engineering discoveries remain within research institutions because researchers lack commercial experience and business support.

The Enterprise Fellowships programme helps bridge this gap by:

Connecting research with industry.
Supporting technology transfer.
Developing engineering entrepreneurs.
Creating new innovation-driven businesses.
Helping society benefit from advanced engineering solutions.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

Step 1: Develop the Innovation Proposal

Applicants should clearly explain:

The engineering innovation.
The problem it solves.
The technology development stage.
Market opportunities.
Commercialisation potential.

Step 2: Demonstrate Entrepreneurial Potential

Applicants should explain:

Their role in developing the business.
Their leadership ability.
Their commitment to becoming a founder or company executive.

Step 3: Confirm Institutional Support

Applicants must ensure their host institution supports:

Spinout creation.
Commercialisation plans.
Long-term technology development.

Step 4: Submit Application

Applicants must submit their fellowship application according to the programme requirements and provide all required technical and commercial information.

Selection Considerations

Applications are assessed based on:

Quality and originality of the engineering innovation.
Commercial potential.
Technology readiness.
Entrepreneurial capability.
Market opportunity.
Strength of commercialisation strategy.
Commitment from the host institution.

Who Cannot Apply?

Applications are not eligible if:

The same business proposal has already been submitted to the Enterprise Fellowships programme two or more times.
The applicant is no longer employed by the university or is no longer a PhD student there.
The spinout has already raised more than £500,000 in equity funding.
The proposed company does not meet ownership requirements.
The hosting institution holds more than 50% equity without additional private investment justification.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

Clearly explain the real-world problem their technology solves.
Demonstrate evidence of technology readiness.
Show market demand and commercial opportunity.
Explain their role as a future company leader.
Build a strong partnership with their university.
Provide realistic commercialisation plans.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Applying with technology that is still at an early research stage.
Failing to explain market potential.
Submitting unclear ownership structures.
Ignoring spinout requirements.
Focusing only on technical details without a business strategy.
Applying with previously rejected proposals without significant changes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Enterprise Fellowships programme?

The Enterprise Fellowships programme supports engineers and researchers who want to commercialise innovative engineering and technology solutions through spinout companies.

How much funding can Enterprise Fellows receive?

Successful applicants can receive up to £75,000 in grant funding along with training, coaching, mentoring, and Enterprise Hub membership.

Who can apply for the fellowship?

The programme is open to engineers and researchers from PhD students to professors who are based at UK higher education institutions or Irish universities.

What type of innovations are supported?

The programme supports engineering and technology innovations with commercial potential and a Technology Readiness Level of 4 or above.

Does the applicant need to create a company?

Yes. The programme is designed for innovations that will be commercialised through a spinout company where the Enterprise Fellow takes a leading role.

Can researchers who are no longer at a university apply?

No. Applicants must remain employed by their university or remain a PhD student at the institution during the award period.

Are existing companies eligible for support?

Spinouts that have already raised more than £500,000 in equity funding are not eligible.

Conclusion

The Enterprise Fellowships programme provides engineers and researchers with the funding, business expertise, and entrepreneurial support needed to transform innovative technologies into successful companies. By combining financial support with mentoring, training, and expert networks, the programme helps create the next generation of engineering entrepreneurs and brings impactful solutions to society.