Innovation Fellowships 2026–27 – Route B: Policy‑Led (British Academy) – Full Opportunity Guide

The Innovation Fellowships 2026–27 – Route B: Policy‑Led is a major UK research funding initiative designed to strengthen collaboration between Humanities and Social Sciences researchers and UK government or policy‑focused organisations. This scheme supports researchers in the SHAPE disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities & the Arts for People and the Economy) to work directly on real‑world policy challenges that require innovative, evidence‑based solutions.

This call is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), with additional support from the Bridging Responsible AI Divides (BRAID) programme for the Digital Society cohort.

1. Key Dates

• Scheme opens: 10 June 2026
• Application deadline: 6 August 2026, 17:00 BST
• Earliest start date: 1 March 2027
• Duration: 12 months

2. Overview of the Scheme

The Innovation Fellowships support early‑career and mid‑career researchers to work with UK‑based non‑academic partners on policy or societal challenges. This scheme is divided into two routes:

• Route A – Researcher‑led (not running in this cycle)
• Route B – Policy‑led (this call)

Under Route B, applicants must apply to work with one of the British Academy’s policy partners, who have defined priority areas for the 2026–27 cohort.

The scheme aims to:

• Strengthen collaboration between academia and policy institutions
• Support knowledge mobilisation and translation
• Build researcher skills in policy engagement
• Address UK‑relevant societal and policy challenges

Applicants do not need to submit a full research proposal. Instead, the detailed work programme will be co‑developed with the partner after selection.

3. Partner Organisations for Route B

Resilient Communities Theme

Researchers may work with one of the following partners:

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
• Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
• Local Policy Innovation Partnerships (LPIP) Hub, City‑REDI, University of Birmingham
• Government Office for Science (GO Science)

Digital Society Theme

Partners include:

• Digital Regulatory Cooperation Forum (DRCF)
• Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)

4. Fellowship Areas for 2026–27

Applicants must choose one of the following policy challenge areas:

Resilient Communities

1. Valuing and mapping cultural infrastructure (DCMS)
2. Understanding access to justice for individuals and families (MoJ)
3. Applying frameworks to value community infrastructure (LPIP)
4. Social and cultural infrastructure for community resilience and emergency preparedness (GO Science)

Digital Society

1. Consumer protection, innovation and regulation in a data‑driven, AI‑enabled economy (DRCF)
2. Place and People‑Focused AI Upskilling for Growth and Opportunity (DWP)

5. Funding Details

• Awards are based on Full Economic Costing (FEC) at 80%.
• The British Academy will fund up to £120,000.
• Applicants must commit 0.4–0.8 FTE to the Fellowship.
• Fellowship funds cannot be used to extend academic contracts.
• Requested FTE must not exceed the applicant’s contracted FTE.

6. Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Hold a long‑term appointment at a UK Higher Education Institution (HEI) or Independent Research Organisation (IRO)
• Be early‑career or mid‑career
• Work in Humanities or Social Sciences (SHAPE disciplines)
• Meet any security clearance or nationality requirements listed in the individual scope summaries
• Independent researchers without institutional affiliation are not eligible

7. Application Guidance

Applicants should consult:

• Scheme Notes
• Scope Summaries
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

These documents provide detailed instructions on preparing the application, eligibility, partner expectations, and assessment criteria.