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) invites established early-career and mid-career humanities and social sciences researchers to collaborate with UK Government policymakers. Successful fellows receive up to £120,000 for a 12-month placement.
Overview
The British Academy Innovation Fellowships Scheme 2026 – Route B: Policy-Led (FCDO) is delivered in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Cabinet Office. The programme embeds academic researchers within government environments to strengthen connections between academic research and policymaking, support evidence-informed decisions, and facilitate knowledge exchange.
For this call, applications are invited across five designated policy areas:
- Applied History
- Critical Infrastructure and European Warfare
- South Asia Geopolitics and Regional Security
- The UK-France Relationship in 2027 and Beyond
- UK National Security Strategy
Benefits
- Funding of up to £120,000 for a 12-month award period, based on Full Economic Costing (FEC) at 80%.
- Direct professional engagement with government policymakers and expanded networks across public and policy sectors.
- Enhanced skills in knowledge mobilisation, translation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Eligibility
- Open to established early-career and mid-career researchers working in the humanities and social sciences.
- Applicants must align their expertise and proposed contribution with one of the five specified FCDO policy areas.
- Proposals require formal approval from a participating UK host institution.
How to Apply
Applications must be prepared and submitted online through the British Academy’s Grant Management System, Flexi-Grant. Candidates should review the complete official scheme guidance before starting their submission and coordinate early with their university research or grants administration office to secure mandatory institutional approval.
Deadline
The closing date for both applicant submission and required UK institutional approval is 18 November 2026 at 17:00 GMT. Fellowships are expected to commence no later than 31 March 2027, subject to security clearances and agreement signatures.