Deadline: 01-Oct-2025
The British Academy, with funding from the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), is supporting the Innovation Fellowships scheme. This program provides funding and support for early- and mid-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to collaborate with partners across the creative, cultural, public, private, and policy sectors.
These fellowships aim to address complex challenges that demand innovative solutions. Researchers from the SHAPE disciplines will be encouraged to build meaningful partnerships beyond academia, promoting knowledge sharing, practical application of research, and personal skill development.
The program particularly targets collaboration with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), which operates in contexts where timely and evidence-based insights are critical. The fellowships offer researchers a chance to work closely with FCDO policymakers and make impactful contributions in real-time.
Fellowships are available in areas such as the Western Balkans, serious organised crime and migration, humanitarian crises, and the UK’s national security strategy. These areas reflect FCDO’s need for timely and rigorous research input.
Grants of up to £120,000 are available for a 12-month period, with funding provided at 80% Full Economic Costing. Awards must start between 1 January and 31 March 2026.
Eligible applicants must be UK residents with a long-term role at a UK higher education or research institution that extends through the fellowship period. Applicants must also meet FCDO engagement requirements and must be early- or mid-career researchers. Independent researchers and postgraduate students are not eligible.
Applicants should not be currently pursuing a PhD, waiting for a viva voce result, or completing required corrections. Individuals may only hold one similar British Academy award at a time and must focus on projects where humanities or social sciences expertise adds value.
For more information, visit The British Academy.
