Driving Research and Innovation Leadership

UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) programme is back with Round 10. One of the UK’s most prestigious funding schemes designed to empower the next generation of research and innovation talent. With up to £110 million in grant funding available, this round is set to support outstanding individuals with the vision, drive, and capability to become world-leading leaders in their field.

Applications for Round 10 open on 23rd June 2025 and close at 11:00am on 5th November 2025.

What Is the Future Leaders Fellowship?

The FLF programme provides sustained, flexible support to early-career researchers and innovators working across all sectors. Its overarching aim is to retain, attract, and nurture future talent, providing a springboard for the next wave of high-impact research and commercially significant innovation.

Each fellowship offers up to £3 million in funding over a four-year term, with the option to apply for a further three years of support. Unlike many grants, FLF is open to individuals working in academia, industry, public sector, and charitable organisations alike, encouraging cross-sector mobility and knowledge exchange.

Aims of the Programme

The FLF scheme seeks to:

  • Develop the next wave of high-potential leaders across research and innovation.
  • Foster ambitious, original, and interdisciplinary work that would otherwise be hard to fund through standard routes.
  • Bridge sectors by supporting work that spans academia, business, and public or third sectors.
  • Encourage long-term career development, giving researchers the time and resources to build a robust portfolio.
  • Support mobility, enabling fellows to move between sectors or institutions to maximise impact and career progression.

This combination of financial support and long-term vision positions the FLF as a unique and highly impactful programme within the UK’s innovation funding landscape.

Scope and Thematic Focus

Round 10 continues UKRI’s commitment to supporting transformative work across all disciplines and sectors. However, the guidance outlines several key themes and priorities, encouraging applicants to consider challenges with long-term economic and societal relevance.

The programme encourages proposals that:

  • Advance the UK’s net zero goals, particularly through innovations in clean energy, sustainable manufacturing, or environmental resilience.
  • Strengthen national security and resilience, including cybersecurity, advanced materials, or critical infrastructure.
  • Enhance health and wellbeing, especially in areas aligned to NHS priorities, data-driven healthcare, or personalised medicine.
  • Support technological sovereignty, such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, and photonics.
  • Tackle inclusive growth, aiming to reduce regional inequality or promote diversity in research leadership.

While the programme remains open to all innovative topics, these themes reflect UKRI’s strategic priorities and global challenges where future leadership will be vital.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must be hosted by a UK-based organisation. This includes:

  • Higher education institutions
  • Businesses
  • Catapults and research and technology organisations (RTOs)
  • Charitable organisations
  • Public sector bodies (such as the NHS, government agencies, or local authorities)

You don’t need a PhD, and there’s no restriction on the number of years since your last degree. Instead, UKRI is looking for people who:

  • Have a compelling track record relative to their career stage.
  • Are transitioning to or establishing independence.
  • Are proposing ambitious, original work that goes beyond the norm in their discipline or sector.

Importantly, applicants must not already be established research or innovation leaders (for example, leading a significant grant or commercial R&D portfolio).

Funding Offer

Applicants can request between £100,000 and £3 million in grant funding to cover:

  • Salary (for both the fellow and team members)
  • Research and development costs
  • Equipment and infrastructure
  • Training, mobility, and collaboration activities

All work must be carried out in the UK, with project outputs expected to deliver benefit from or within the UK. Fellows are encouraged to explore secondments, international collaborations, and inter-sector mobility where it enhances impact.

Projects must last a minimum of four years. A further three years of funding may be available via a separate process if significant progress has been demonstrated.

Application Process

There are two application routes:

  • Academic applicants must apply via the UKRI Funding Service.
  • Non-academic applicants (e.g., business or third sector) must apply via the Innovate UK Innovation Funding Service (IFS).

The application consists of a comprehensive proposal, outlining:

  • The originality, feasibility, and strategic value of your proposed programme.
  • How the fellowship will catalyse your progression to research/innovation leadership.
  • Your host organisation’s commitment to supporting your career development.
  • The anticipated impact of your work, whether academic, commercial, or societal.

Applicants will also need to submit a host organisation statement and details of career development support.

Assessment Criteria

Proposals will be assessed by a diverse panel of expert reviewers and interviewers against criteria including:

  • Vision and ambition
  • Leadership potential
  • Methodological rigour
  • Contribution to UKRI’s strategic priorities
  • Host organisation support and career trajectory

As funding is limited, only the most competitive and strategically aligned proposals will be funded.

Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

UKRI is committed to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through its funding mechanisms. Applications are encouraged from underrepresented groups, and adjustments will be made where needed to ensure an accessible application process.

Applicants with disabilities or long-term conditions are encouraged to contact Innovate UK at least 15 working days before the closing date to arrange reasonable accommodations.

Why This Fellowship Matters

At a time when the UK is doubling down on science and technology-led growth, the FLF programme stands out as a bold investment in people. It offers individuals the rare opportunity to:

  • Build a long-term, independent career track.
  • Develop multidisciplinary, cross-sector programmes of work.
  • Shape national and global priorities across industry, academia, and public policy.

Whether you are a pioneering engineer developing clean battery tech, a biomedical researcher tackling health inequities, or an entrepreneur driving AI adoption in public services, the FLF can be the vehicle that propels your ideas from concept to impact.

To discuss your project idea in more detail, contact RedKnight today for a free consultation.

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