Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). (UK Research and Innovation) · United Kingdom. Fellowship must be held at a UK-based organisation eligible for UKRI funding. (UK Research and Innovation)
Fellowship funding to support ambitious research and innovation across UKRI's remit. Supports researchers and innovators who are establishing or transitioning to independence through long-term flexible funding for research and innovation programmes. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
16 Jun 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Fellowship funding to support ambitious research and innovation across UKRI's remit. Supports researchers and innovators who are establishing or transitioning to independence through long-term flexible funding for research and innovation programmes. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Open across the full UKRI remit including arts and humanities, biological sciences, engineering and physical sciences, environmental sciences, social sciences, medical research, innovation and technology. (UK Research and Innovation)
Match funding
No additional institutional match funding beyond the standard 20% FEC contribution. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible applicants
Researchers and innovators establishing or transitioning to independence. Applicants must be based at and supported by a UK organisation eligible for UKRI funding. Academic and eligible non-academic host organisations may apply. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
No maximum project cost specified. UKRI funds 80% of full economic cost (FEC). (UK Research and Innovation)
Total fund available
Up to £110,000,000. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding intensity
80% FEC. Host organisations provide the remaining 20%. (UK Research and Innovation)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Ambitious research or innovation programmes. Supports original research, interdisciplinary research, innovation and commercial research where appropriate. Applications must include leadership and career development. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- Salary, estates and indirect costs, research expenses, equipment (where justified), travel and subsistence, training, facilities and other directly incurred costs under UKRI FEC rules. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service (academic-hosted applicants). Innovation Funding Service (IFS) for eligible non-academic hosted applicants. (UK Research and Innovation)
Competitiveness
Highly competitive. Not all shortlisted applicants receive funding. (UK Research and Innovation)
Decision timeline
Peer review responses issued 11 January 2027. Applicant responses due 25 January 2027. Shortlisting panels expected week commencing 15 March 2027. Interviews expected week commencing 17 May 2027. Final funding decisions made by UKRI following interviews. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
Eligibility check followed by expert peer review, panel assessment, shortlisting and interview. UKRI makes the final funding decision. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application sections
- Summary, Vision, Approach, Applicant and Team Capability, Career Development, Host Organisation Support, Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), Resources and Cost Justification, Data Management and additional required sections where applicable. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application components
Not specified
Required documents
Not specified
Appendices
- Vision and Approach PDF (including Gantt chart where applicable), clinical applicant documentation where applicable, overseas animal research appendix where required, project partner letters of support, SoECAT for NHS research where applicable. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment criteria
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications outside the UKRI remit, failing eligibility requirements, missing required documentation or failing peer review/interview will not be funded. (UK Research and Innovation)
Timeline and partners
Opening date
2 Feb 2026
Project duration
Up to 7 years, initially funded for 4 years with the option to apply for renewal for a further 3 years. (UK Research and Innovation)
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Co-funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Innovate UK, Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). (UK Research and Innovation)
Collaboration rules
- Applications are submitted through a single eligible host organisation. International project partners and collaborators are permitted where justified. (UK Research and Innovation)
Consortium requirements
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-07-31.
Grant Name
Future Leaders Fellowships: Round 11
Minimum Award
Not specified. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application Limit
Academic host organisations may apply institutional applicant caps. MRC-hosted applicants may submit additional clinical nominations under MRC arrangements. (UK Research and Innovation)
Research Category
Research and innovation fellowship. (UK Research and Innovation)
Subcontractors
Not specified. (UK Research and Innovation)
Subsidy Scheme
Not specified. (UK Research and Innovation)
Sanctions Rule
UKRI Trusted Research and Innovation principles apply. International collaborations must comply with UK sanctions and national security requirements where applicable. (UK Research and Innovation)
Animal Research Rule
Projects involving animals must comply with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act and UKRI animal welfare guidance. Overseas animal research must meet equivalent welfare standards. (UK Research and Innovation)
Interview Stage
Yes. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed. Interviews are expected during the week commencing 17 May 2027 and conducted online via Microsoft Teams. (UK Research and Innovation)
Key Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate leadership potential, independence, ambitious research or innovation vision, career development plans and strong host organisation support. Host organisations must provide an Inclusive Selection Statement. Trusted Research and Innovation requirements apply where relevant. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
There is no outline stage for Round 11. Applications with a total project cost expected to exceed £1.4 million require additional justification as specified in the guidance. Applications cannot be amended after submission. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official Grant Page
https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/future-leaders-fellowship-round-11/ (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
16 June 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 16 Jun 2026
- Funding amount
- No maximum project cost specified. UKRI funds 80% of full economic cost (FEC). (UK Research and Innovation)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Fellowship. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Open across the full UKRI remit including arts and humanities, biological sciences, engineering and physical sciences, environmental sciences, social sciences, medical research, innovation and technology. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 2 Feb 2026