UKAEA Fusion Industrial Visitin

Application Components: Application submitted by university including named academic lead, industrial partner, work plan, cost justification, and supporting letters

Application Platform: Find a Grant service

Assessment Criteria: Vision; capability of industrial visiting academic; work plan; host university support; cost justification; impact

Decision Process: Eligibility screening followed by expert panel assessment and final approval by UKAEA FOSTER programme

Eligible Research Costs: Industrial visiting academic time, academic lead time, travel, and subsistence

Environmental & EDI Requirements: Applications are encouraged from underrepresented groups, early career professionals, and partnerships with post-92 universities

Funding Structure: £10,000 per year for 3 years (up to £30,000 total); minimum 15 days of engagement per academic year required

important notes: 10 awards available; 5 reserved for early career professionals; projects run for 3 years; minimum 15 days per year commitment required; funding paid quarterly in arrears subject to reporting

Ineligible Applicants: Employees within the UK Atomic Energy Authority group; applicants without UK university host or industry partner

Ineligible Costs: Research activities, equipment, PhD supervision, routine teaching, administrative costs not relevant to the grant, estates and indirect costs

Key Organisational Requirements: Must be led by a UK university; must include a named academic lead and industrial visiting academic; partnership must be formally agreed

Objectives: To strengthen collaboration between academia and industry, improve student learning, and develop future talent pipelines in fusion energy

Project Start Date: Start of 2026/27 academic year