Are you an early or mid-career researcher in the humanities or social sciences who wants to help shape real policy in the UK? The British Academy’s Innovation Fellowships 2025–26 – Route B: Policy-led (Sustainable Futures) is now open for applications! This is your chance to work directly with key UK government departments for one full year to help tackle pressing policy challenges related to sustainability, public engagement, and climate.
What Is the Opportunity?
The Innovation Fellowships is a UK-funded program that allows researchers to step outside of academia and apply their expertise to solve real-world problems. Under Route B (Policy-led), selected fellows will collaborate directly with one of the following UK government partners:
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
- Government Office for Science (GO Science)
You will work in one of three key policy areas:
- Landscape Recovery (Defra)
- Public Participation Strategy (DESNZ)
- Climate, Society, and International (GO Science)
Rather than proposing your own project in advance, you’ll co-develop your work plan with the government department after being selected. This makes it easier to align your work with real policy needs.
What’s the Funding and Support?
- Award Amount: Up to £120,000 (funded at 80% Full Economic Costing)
- Time Commitment: You must dedicate 40–80% of your working time (0.4 to 0.8 FTE) to the fellowship.
- Duration: 12 months
- Location: You must be based at a UK higher education or independent research institution for the duration of the fellowship.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible:
- You must be ordinarily resident in the UK
- Hold a long-term appointment at a UK-based institution (lasting at least until the end of the fellowship)
- Be at the early or mid-career stage in your academic or research career
- You must also meet the nationality and security clearance requirements as listed in the scheme guidance.
Note: This route (Route B) is different from the Researcher-led Route A, which is currently not open.
Application Timeline
The Innovation Fellowships 2025–26 – Route B: Policy-led officially opened for applications on 5 June 2025. The last date to apply is 6 August 2025 (by 17:00 BST). If selected, your fellowship will begin anytime between 1 March 2026 and 31 March 2026, and will last for 12 months.