Innovation Fellowships 2025-26 – Route B: Policy-led (Sustainable Futures)

is a funding program designed to foster collaboration between humanities and social sciences researchers and UK government departments to address key policy challenges related to sustainable futures.

Objectives:

• Enable researchers to work with UK government partners to tackle societal and policy challenges.
• Support knowledge mobilisation and translation beyond academia.
• Develop individual skills through practical policy engagement.
• Contribute to sustainable futures aligned with the British Academy’s policy program.

Target Beneficiaries:

• Early- and mid-career researchers in humanities and social sciences.
• Applicants must be UK residents with a long-term appointment at a UK Higher Education Institution or Independent Research Organisation.
• Fellows work with one of three government partners: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), or Government Office for Science (GO Science).

Key Features:

• Duration: 12 months, starting between 1-31 March 2026.
• Funding: Up to £120,000 at 80% Full Economic Costing (FEC).
• Time commitment: 0.4 to 0.8 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE).
• Fellows finalize their work program with the partner post-award; no research proposal required at application.
• Policy areas include: Landscape Recovery (Defra), Public Participation Strategy (DESNZ), and Climate, Society and International (GO Science).
• The scheme is funded by: the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Application Process:

• Scheme opens: 5 June 2025.
• Deadline: 6 August 2025, 17:00 BST.
• Applicants apply to work with one of the specified government partners.
• Detailed guidance and FAQs are provided by The British Academy.

This fellowship supports impactful policy-led research collaborations that contribute to sustainable futures in the UK.