FUTURE LEADERS FELLOWSHIPS ROUND 6 – FUNDING

1. Title: FUTURE LEADERS FELLOWSHIPS ROUND 6 – FUNDING2. Awarding Authority: BBSRC, UK Research and Innovation, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK, Medical Research Council (MRC), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), GB Email: fellows@ukri.org. Web: 3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: This fellowship is open to researchers and/or innovators with outstanding potential, who are transitioning to or establishing independence. You may be based in universities, specified location-registered businesses, and other environments including Catapults and institutes.Four years’ funding is available to support ambitious research/innovation programmes across UKRI’s remit, and fellows benefit from outstanding support to develop their careers. There is no minimum or maximum award value, and awards may be renewed for a further three years.You must have the support of your host organisation for your outline application.5. CPV Code(s): 73110000, 73100000, 73210000, 73200000, 80500000, 80000000, 80521000, 389000006. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK147. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: UK8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: Total fund: £900,000,00010. Closing date: 10.12.2020 (16:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit: 12. Other information: Funding type: FellowshipPublication date: 28 October 2020Opening date: 10 November 2020Who can applyThis scheme is for early career researchers and innovators who are transitioning to or establishing independence or who may be developing their own original and ambitious plans within a commercial setting.Applicants who have already achieved research/innovation independence (for example by securing funding aimed at this career stage, or by already managing their own significant programme of work within a business) will therefore not be competitive. Senior academics and innovators are not permitted to apply.There are no eligibility rules based on years since PhD or whether the applicant currently holds a permanent/open-ended academic position or job role. If you are applying from business, there is no requirement to hold a PhD, however you should be able to demonstrate equivalent research/innovation experience and/or training.Read the overview and objectives of the scheme and the person specification to assess and justify your suitability. Note that UKRI cannot confirm eligibility prior to submission.The fellowship offers flexibility to support outstanding individuals:from diverse career backgroundsreturning from a career break or returning to research and/or innovation following time in other roleswishing to work part-time or in job shares in order to combine the fellowship with personal responsibilitiescoming to the UK from abroad – researchers and innovators are eligible for a Global Talent visa under the ‘exceptional promise’ category for future research leaders. They must have the support of their host organisation. Find out about the Global Talent visaFellows hosted by an academic organisation may spend up to six hours a week (pro rata for part-time applicants) on other commitments or related activities, provided they enhance career development. Those with substantial ongoing research commitments as a result of participation in other grants must relinquish these in order to hold a UKRI FLF award.Fellows hosted by a business can come from commercial organisations of any size, in any sector or region. Reduced-hours fellowships are available to applicants hosted by a business, enabling fellows to spend up to 40% of their time focused on other activities within the business in order to enhance their career.Before applying you must:ensure that the host organisation agrees to support the fellowshipread the Guidance for Applicantsrefer to the Frequently Asked Questionsread guidance on career breaks and flexible working (PDF, 24KB) and job share FAQsEligible host organisationsFellowships must be held at an eligible UK-based host organisation – universities, UK-registered businesses, and other research environments including Catapults and research council institutes and laboratories.Find out more about organisations eligible for funding.Academic institutions can be any UK higher education institution that receives grant funding from one of the UK higher education funding bodies, research institutes and independent research organisations. Cross sector and organisational links, and research and innovation collaborations in both the UK and internationally, are encouraged.For academic applicants, full proposals should highlight the commitment to the salary of the fellow and to providing an open-ended UK based independent research and/or innovation position, to be taken up during or on completion of the fellowship (in line with organisational employment policies and practices). We recently wrote to higher education institutions with some key messages for Round 6 (PDF, 103KB).Businesses or other privately-owned research organisations hosting fellowships, should provide an innovation and/or research environment of international standing and must be eligible to receive UK Government state aid. Fellowships will only be awarded to support research and/or innovation above and beyond the standard activities of the organisation.Businesses looking to host fellows should read the introduction for businesses (PDF, 970KB).What we’re looking forWe’re looking to fund fellowships of up to seven years (funded for four years in the first phase with the option to extend for a further three years) to support talented researchers and innovators who are transitioning to research and/or innovation leadership.You must clearly demonstrate:how the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) award will support and enable your long-term career goalsbroad knowledge of the area of interest and a compelling vision for the excellence and importance of your proposed research or innovationyour own original and ambitious plans/ideasyou can take a leading role in your areathe suitability of the proposed environment(s) for your research or innovation and its impact.The scheme aims to:develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UKfoster new research and innovation career paths including those at the academic/business and interdisciplinary boundaries, and facilitate movement of people between sectorsprovide sustained funding and resources for the best early career researchers and innovators provide long-term, flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges, and support adventurous, ambitious programmes.We support fellowships across our remitWe support fellowships in all areas of UKRI’s remit, including multi- and interdisciplinary projects. Fellowships can also lead and develop innovation. We define innovation as the practical translation of disruptive ideas into novel, relevant and valued products, services, processes, systems or business models, making them readily available to markets, government and society, creating economic and/or social value from ideas.Future Leaders Fellowships are personal awards to support fellows develop as impactful and influential research or innovation leaders.You are encouraged to think broadly about the type of activities you may pursue as part of your research and/or innovation objectives. This could include time for work in other environments, developing international links, and development of new skills (for example in policy or commercialisation).You should also consider what career development support opportunities are appropriate, for example mentoring and professional training and development, and relevant training courses that will underpin your future career ambitions and learning. A clear programme of skills development is an essential component of this fellowship.How much funding you can requestThere is no limit to the amount of funding you can request under this scheme, but requests must be appropriate to the project and you must be able to justify the amount you need to meet the objectives of your proposal. You must notify UKRI at outline stage of any request for more than £1.5 million total UKRI contribution.The fellowship will provide salary support. For academic and Catapult-hosted fellows, in partnership with the host, this is tapered throughout the fellowship, with host organisations required to commit to funding an increasing percentage of the applicant’s salary as the fellowship progresses. The precise details for non-business and business hosts are available in the Guidance for Applicants.The host’s supporting letter should commit to the salary of the fellow and, for academic applicants, should confirm an open-ended UK-based independent research and/or innovation position, to be taken up during or on the completion of the fellowship (in line with organisational employment policies and practices).Collaborating with othersYou may wish to work in collaboration with individuals or organisations. They may be added as a co-investigator, collaborator, or project partner depending on their role, however please ensure their inclusion is fully justified (such as through bringing complementary and different skills to the project, or providing access to samples or equipment).Read the relevant sections of the Guidance for Applicants and Frequently Asked Questions fully.Fellows can spend periods overseas or in other internationally leading research or innovation organisations if it can be clearly justified in terms of their programme of work and meeting the overarching aims of the scheme.Start datePlease note each round has a mandatory published start date and you should ensure your host is able to facilitate setting up your award within this timeframe.Contact detailsIf your question isn’t covered in the guidance, or you need further information, email awarding authorityTKR-2020114-EX-1493546# funding opportunity