British Academy Innovation Fellowships 2026: Up to £120,000 for Researchers to Work with UK Government Policymakers

The British Academy Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2026 – Route B: Policy-Led (FCDO) is now open for applications, offering established early-career and mid-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences an opportunity to work closely with policymakers within the UK Government.

Delivered by the British Academy in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Cabinet Office, the fellowship is designed to strengthen connections between academic research and policymaking. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to bring their research expertise into policy environments while developing new professional networks, strengthening knowledge exchange and expanding the potential impact of their research beyond academia.

Awards are available for a period of 12 months, with the British Academy able to offer funding of up to £120,000 for the 12-month fellowship, based on Full Economic Costing (FEC) at 80%.

Applications opened on 22 September 2026, and the deadline for both submission and UK institutional approval is 18 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT.

About the British Academy Innovation Fellowships Scheme

The British Academy is the United Kingdom’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. Through its research, funding, policy work and international collaborations, the Academy supports humanities and social sciences researchers and helps mobilise their expertise to address significant societal and policy challenges.

The Innovation Fellowships programme has been funded by the relevant UK government department supporting the scheme, with the Academy also working with partners including the FCDO and Cabinet Office for this policy-led call.

The wider Innovation Fellowships Scheme is intended to support established early-career and mid-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to build partnerships with organisations and businesses across the creative, cultural, public, private and policy sectors.

These partnerships are designed to address challenges requiring innovative approaches and solutions while creating stronger connections between academic research and organisations beyond universities.

The programme particularly seeks to support researchers in the SHAPE community — Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy — to establish deeper links outside academia.

Through these relationships, fellows can contribute to:

• Knowledge mobilisation and translation;
• Evidence-informed policymaking;
• Stronger connections between research and practice;
• Innovative approaches to complex policy challenges;
• Individual professional and skills development;
• New relationships between academic researchers and policymakers; and
• Career development across academic, public, private, cultural, creative and policy sectors.

Two Routes Under the Innovation Fellowships Scheme

The British Academy Innovation Fellowships programme operates through two principal routes:

1. Route A: Researcher-Led
2. Route B: Policy-Led

The current 2026 funding opportunity is specifically for Route B: Policy-Led, with the British Academy working alongside the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Cabinet Office.

Rather than being solely driven by research questions developed independently by applicants, the policy-led route focuses on areas where government partners have identified particular research and evidence requirements.

This creates an opportunity for researchers to bring specialist academic expertise into direct engagement with policymakers working on complex and potentially time-sensitive issues.

Purpose of the Policy-Led Innovation Fellowships

Government departments such as the FCDO and Cabinet Office operate in environments where access to timely, rigorous and high-quality evidence can be important for effective policy development and decision-making.

The British Academy explains that the FCDO and Cabinet Office have specialised research requirements and frequently operate in circumstances where evidence-based analysis needs to be available at the appropriate moment.

Issues involving international influence, negotiations, security, geopolitical developments and relationships with international partners may require policymakers to draw on expertise from multiple disciplines.

However, researchers working outside government can face practical barriers when trying to ensure their research has a meaningful impact on policy.

The Innovation Fellowships seek to bridge this divide.

By embedding closer interaction between researchers and policymakers, the programme aims to create opportunities for academic expertise to contribute more directly to government policy environments while simultaneously allowing researchers to develop a deeper understanding of how evidence is used in policymaking.

Opportunity to Work Closely with FCDO and Cabinet Office Policymakers

One of the central features of the fellowship is the opportunity for successful researchers to interact closely with policymakers.

Rather than limiting engagement to occasional consultations or external research reports, the programme is designed to establish a mutually beneficial partnership between researchers and government.

Fellows will be positioned to develop stronger links between policy and academia and to understand more closely the practical research needs of government departments.

This interaction can also help researchers strengthen their ability to translate academic knowledge into forms that are relevant and useful to policymakers.

The experience may additionally support fellows in expanding their careers and professional networks across the creative, cultural, public, private and policy sectors.

British Academy Innovation Fellowship Research Areas for 2026

For the 2026 Route B Policy-Led call, the British Academy and FCDO are inviting applications relating to five identified areas.

Applicants should consider how their expertise, research background and proposed contribution align with the relevant policy area.

1. Applied History

This fellowship area provides an opportunity to apply historical research, knowledge and methodologies to contemporary policy questions.

Applied history can help policymakers understand how past events, decisions, institutions, relationships and geopolitical developments may provide context for present-day challenges.

Researchers with relevant historical expertise may therefore be positioned to contribute perspectives that help connect contemporary policymaking with deeper historical analysis.

2. Critical Infrastructure and European Warfare

The second area focuses on critical infrastructure and European warfare.

Critical infrastructure can be central to national security, resilience and the functioning of societies, particularly during conflict and periods of geopolitical instability.

Researchers whose expertise relates to security, infrastructure, conflict, European affairs or relevant humanities and social sciences disciplines may find this area particularly relevant.

3. South Asia Geopolitics and Regional Security

Another fellowship area focuses on South Asia geopolitics and regional security.

South Asia is home to significant geopolitical relationships and security considerations, creating a need for detailed research and contextual understanding.

The fellowship provides a pathway for researchers with appropriate regional, political, historical, international relations or security expertise to contribute research-informed insights relevant to policy.

4. The UK-France Relationship in 2027 and Beyond

Researchers can also apply in relation to the UK-France relationship in 2027 and beyond.

The fellowship will provide an opportunity to examine issues relevant to the relationship between the United Kingdom and France and how this relationship may develop in the years ahead.

Applicants with relevant expertise in international relations, diplomacy, politics, history, European studies or related areas may consider how their research can contribute to this policy-focused theme.

5. UK National Security Strategy

The fifth area concerns the UK National Security Strategy.

This theme provides an opportunity for researchers whose work can contribute evidence, analysis and specialist knowledge relevant to national security policy and strategy.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of national security, expertise from different areas of the humanities and social sciences may potentially contribute to understanding complex strategic questions.

Applicants should consult the official scheme guidance for detailed information concerning the requirements and expectations associated with their selected fellowship area.

Who Is the Innovation Fellowship Designed For?

The programme is targeted at established early-career and mid-career researchers in the humanities and social sciences.

The opportunity is particularly relevant to researchers who are interested in expanding the impact of their academic work beyond conventional university settings and developing meaningful relationships with policymakers.

The fellowship may appeal to researchers seeking to:

• Apply academic research to practical policy challenges;
• Work directly with government policymakers;
• Strengthen the policy impact of their research;
• Develop knowledge mobilisation and translation skills;
• Understand how research evidence is used within government;
• Build new professional networks beyond academia;
• Develop relationships between universities and government institutions;
• Explore career pathways involving research and public policy; and
• Contribute specialist humanities and social sciences expertise to complex policy questions.

Applicants should carefully review the British Academy’s official scheme guidance to determine whether they meet all institutional, career-stage and other eligibility requirements before submitting an application.

Fellowship Funding: Up to £120,000

The financial support available through the programme is substantial.

The British Academy is able to offer fellowship awards of up to £120,000 for the 12-month award period.

Funding is provided with Full Economic Costing at 80%.

Applicants and their institutions should consult the scheme guidance carefully to understand which costs can be included, how Full Economic Costing should be calculated and any restrictions that apply to the fellowship budget.

Universities and research institutions may have their own internal processes and deadlines for reviewing and approving applications before they can be submitted to the British Academy.

Applicants should therefore engage with their relevant research office or grants administration team sufficiently early in the application process.

Duration of the British Academy Innovation Fellowship

Each fellowship will run for 12 months.

Successful awards are expected to commence no later than 31 March 2027.

However, the exact start date will depend on the successful completion of the required security check and the signing of the relevant agreement.

Successful applicants are expected to provide any information requested by the FCDO in a timely manner so that these requirements can be completed and the fellowship can begin promptly.

Applicants should therefore take the security-check process into consideration when planning for the potential commencement of their fellowship.

Key Dates for the Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2026

Prospective applicants should take note of the following timeline:

• Scheme opened: 22 September 2026
• Application deadline: 18 November 2026
• Deadline time: 17:00 GMT
• Duration: 12 months
• Latest expected commencement: 31 March 2027
• Maximum award: Up to £120,000 for 12 months, with Full Economic Costing at 80%

Importantly, 18 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT is also the deadline for UK institutional approval, not simply the applicant’s submission.

Researchers should therefore avoid leaving institutional approval arrangements until the final days of the application period.

How to Apply for the British Academy Innovation Fellowships 2026

Applications must be completed and submitted online through the British Academy’s Grant Management System, Flexi-Grant.

Prospective applicants should first carefully review the official scheme guidance and identify which of the five available policy areas most closely aligns with their expertise.

A practical application process may include the following steps:

1. Review the complete scheme guidance

   Read the British Academy’s official guidance notes carefully before beginning an application. These notes contain more detailed information concerning eligibility, application requirements, funding rules and assessment arrangements.

2. Identify the appropriate policy area

   Applicants should determine which of the five FCDO fellowship areas best matches their research expertise and experience.

3. Engage with the relevant UK institution

   Because institutional approval is required, applicants should contact the appropriate research or grants office at their institution well ahead of the final deadline.

4. Develop the fellowship application

   Applicants should prepare the information required by the British Academy and ensure their proposed fellowship responds appropriately to the objectives of the policy-led scheme.

5. Prepare the fellowship budget

   Funding requests should comply with the British Academy’s rules, including the applicable Full Economic Costing arrangements.

6. Complete the application through Flexi-Grant

   Applications must be submitted through the British Academy’s online Grant Management System, Flexi-Grant.

7. Secure institutional approval before the deadline

   Both submission and the required UK institutional approval must be completed by the stated deadline.

Application Deadline

The final deadline for applications to the British Academy Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2026 – Route B: Policy-Led (FCDO) is:

18 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT.

The same deadline applies to the required UK institutional approval.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to determine whether their university or institution has an earlier internal deadline. Research offices commonly require time to review budgets, institutional commitments and application materials before providing formal approval.

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Why Knowledge Mobilisation Is Central to the Fellowship

A significant objective of the Innovation Fellowships programme is to strengthen the movement of knowledge between academia and organisations beyond universities.

Academic research can generate valuable insights, but translating complex research into formats that can be used in real-world policy environments requires additional skills, relationships and understanding.

The Innovation Fellowships seek to create conditions where researchers can engage more closely with those working directly on policy challenges.

This approach supports knowledge mobilisation and translation, helping research findings, methodologies and expertise move beyond academic publications and into environments where they may inform practical work.

At the same time, researchers can gain greater insight into the realities and constraints surrounding policymaking.

This two-way exchange is one of the central principles of the fellowship.

Career Development Through the Innovation Fellowship

While addressing policy challenges is a major objective of the programme, the fellowship also places importance on the professional development of participating researchers.

Working closely with policymakers can expose researchers to different working environments, institutional structures and approaches to evidence.

Fellows may strengthen skills related to:

• Knowledge exchange;
• Research communication;
• Policy engagement;
• Evidence translation;
• Interdisciplinary collaboration;
• Stakeholder engagement;
• Building partnerships outside academia; and
• Applying academic expertise to practical challenges.

The programme is therefore intended to create benefits both for participating policymakers and for researchers seeking to broaden the reach and application of their work.

Important Considerations Before Applying

Before beginning an application, prospective candidates should carefully consider several important requirements.

First, applicants should confirm that they satisfy the British Academy’s definition and requirements for the relevant early-career or mid-career research stage.

Second, applicants should establish that their academic expertise falls within the humanities and social sciences and appropriately aligns with one of the specified policy areas.

Third, candidates should investigate their institution’s internal approval procedures. Since institutional approval must be completed by the official deadline, internal university deadlines may fall earlier than 18 November 2026.

Fourth, applicants should understand that the fellowship’s start date is dependent upon successful completion of a security check and signature of the agreement.

Finally, applicants should carefully read the official scheme guidance rather than relying only on the general funding announcement. The guidance should be treated as the authoritative source for detailed application and eligibility requirements.

Contact Information

Questions regarding the programme can be directed to the British Academy through the contact email provided for the scheme:

international@thebritishacademy.ac.uk

Applicants should consult the British Academy’s official funding page and scheme guidance for complete application requirements and access to the Flexi-Grant application system.

Conclusion

The British Academy Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2026 – Route B: Policy-Led (FCDO) offers established early-career and mid-career humanities and social sciences researchers an opportunity to bring academic expertise closer to the centre of UK government policymaking.

Through partnerships involving the British Academy, FCDO and Cabinet Office, the programme seeks to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical policy requirements. Fellows will have the opportunity to interact closely with policymakers, strengthen links between research and government, develop knowledge mobilisation skills and build professional connections extending beyond traditional academic environments.

For the 2026 call, applications are invited across five areas: Applied History; Critical Infrastructure and European Warfare; South Asia Geopolitics and Regional Security; the UK-France Relationship in 2027 and Beyond; and UK National Security Strategy.

With awards available for 12 months and funding of up to £120,000, the fellowship represents a significant opportunity for eligible researchers interested in combining humanities and social sciences expertise with policy engagement.

Applications opened on 22 September 2026, and prospective applicants must ensure that both their application and required UK institutional approval are completed by 18 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT.

Researchers interested in applying should begin by carefully reviewing the British Academy’s full scheme guidance, confirming their eligibility and selected policy area, and engaging with their institution early enough to complete all internal and external application requirements before the deadline.

Visit the OFY website for more Fellowship Opportunities.