UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships 2019

Applications are open for the UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships. The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme (FLF) aims to develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK. Providing up to seven years of funding, for at least 550 early-career researchers and innovators, the scheme will tackle difficult and novel challenges. It will grow the strong supply of talented individuals needed to ensure that UK research and innovation continues to be world class.

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships can be held at any UK-based organisation currently registered as eligible to apply to the research councils (for example higher education institutes, research council institutes and eligible independent research organisations), or Innovate UK. Companies or other privately owned research organisations are encouraged to host UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships if they can provide an innovation and/or research environment of international standing.

The objectives of the scheme are:

to develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK
to foster new research and innovation career paths including those at the academic/business and interdisciplinary boundaries, and facilitate movement of people between sectors
to provide sustained funding and resources for the best early career researchers and innovators
to provide long-term, flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges, and support adventurous, ambitious programmes.

There will be six calls for the FLFs, with two calls taking place each year over the next three years. Applications can be submitted in any area of research or innovation covered by the research councils and Innovate UK.

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Benefits

The support offered will be long-term and flexible and will provide comprehensive package of support, including the fellow’s salary and justified research, staff and training costs, with seven years of support available on a 4+3 model, with a review in year four. The case for support should make clear the long-term aims of the programme, and why they matter – while providing more specific plans and costings for the first four years.

For business applicants, those in the user community or other applicants, four years’ support may be sufficient and there is no need to apply for a further three years of funding if this is not required. Successful applicants will have the intellectual and financial freedom to develop and change direction over this period.

UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellowships Eligibility

This cross-UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) scheme will support early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential in universities, UK registered businesses, and other research and user environments including research councils’ institutes and laboratories.
The FLF scheme welcomes applications from both UK and international applicants and individuals should use the person specification to assess and justify their suitability for the scheme. The support of the institution will be a critical component of all fellowships which will enable the fellow to transition to or establish their research/innovation independence in any area supported by UKRI.
These Fellowships support applicants from diverse career paths, including those returning from a career break or following time in other roles.
They also encourage applications from those wishing to work part-time in order to combine the fellowship with personal responsibilities.
Review panels will take into account time spent outside an active research or innovation environment, whether through career breaks, flexible working or as a consequence of working in other roles.