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Industry Fellowships 2027 Round 1

The Royal Society

The Industry Fellowship is part of the Royal Society's wider Science and Industry Programme, which strives to promote the value and importance of science by connecting academia, industry and government.

The Industry Fellowship scheme is open to academic and industrial researchers from early to senior career stages based in the UK.

The aims of the scheme are to:

Support the mobility of excellent academic or industrial researchers between the two sectors in the UK, across the natural sciences
Enable the Industry Fellow to develop and establish collaborative links between the academic and industrial organisations, which may lead to longer term collaborations
Support the career development of the Industry Fellow, and their team, through the cross-sector collaborative research experience afforded by the fellowship
Enhance knowledge exchange in science and technology between industry and academia.

For shorter term collaborative projects between industry and academia, see the Short Industry Fellowship.

The Royal Society recognises that diversity is essential for delivering excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Society wants to encourage applications from the widest range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to maximise innovation and creativity in science for the benefit of humanity. We regularly review and revise policies and processes to embed equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles in all aspects of the grant making process and ensure all talented applicants have an equitable chance to succeed as per assessment criteria.

See below for details of adjustments we can provide for disabled applicants.

What does the scheme offer?

Awards can be for any period up to two years full-time or a maximum of four years pro rata (i.e. an award could be held at 50% part-time for four years), enabling Industry Fellows to maintain links with their employing institution more easily.

Applicants may apply for up to a maximum award value of £168,000 over the award period. Funds can cover:

The applicant’s basic salary while on secondment. The employing organisation will continue to pay national insurance and pension contributions
Research expenses which may be claimed up to the value of £4,000 per year, and may be used to support summer studentships

Full funding details can be found in the scheme notes.

We provide flexibility to accommodate personal circumstances including part-time working, sabbaticals and secondments. There is provision for maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoptive or extended sick leave, as well as financial support for childcare costs that arise from attending conferences and research visits.

Royal Society Research Fellows also have the opportunity to access a range of career development and engagement opportunities including training on leadership, science communication and public engagement, and activities coordinated by our science policy and schools engagement teams. For further detail on these additional benefits, read our opportunities page.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Investigator Excellence (Most Important Factor)

Royal Society funding is people-focused, not project-heavy.

Strong predictors include:

A high-quality publication record relative to career stage

Evidence of original contributions (not incremental work)

Intellectual independence from PhD/postdoc supervisors

Clear trajectory toward international scientific leadership

🔑 For fellowships (URF/Dorothy Hodgkin): the person matters more than the project.

2. Original, Curiosity-Driven Science

The Royal Society prioritizes:

Fundamental research questions

High-risk, high-reward ideas

Long-term scientific value (not short-term application)

Projects that are:
❌ overly applied
❌ narrowly translational
❌ framed mainly around impact metrics

…are typically less competitive.

3. Career-Stage Fit to the Scheme

Each Royal Society scheme targets a very specific career window.

Examples:

URF → early-career researchers with exceptional promise and independence

Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship → excellent researchers needing flexible working

Research Grants → established investigators with strong track records

International Exchanges → collaborative, bilateral research

🎯 Mismatch between applicant stage and scheme is a common reason for rejection.

4. Clear Scientific Vision (Not Over-Detailed Methods)

Successful proposals emphasize:

Big scientific questions

Why the problem matters fundamentally

Why you are uniquely placed to solve it

Royal Society reviewers prefer:
✔ conceptual clarity
✔ intellectual ambition
✔ long-term vision

…over exhaustive experimental detail.

5. Independence and Leadership Potential

Especially for fellowships, reviewers look for:

Clear distinction from previous supervisors

Evidence of initiating ideas, collaborations, or techniques

Mentoring, supervision, or leadership activities (as appropriate)

🔑 Future Fellow of the Royal Society potential is an implicit (but real) consideration.

6. Host Institution Strength & Commitment

For fellowships:

The host department must provide a strong research environment

Clear institutional support (space, facilities, integration)

No expectation of teaching overload during fellowship

Weak or generic host support letters reduce competitiveness.

7. International Standing or Potential

The Royal Society is globally focused.

Predictors include:

International collaborators

Invitations, talks, or visiting positions

Publications with global visibility

Strong case for international leadership (for UK-based schemes)

8. Discipline-Agnostic Excellence

Unlike many funders, The Royal Society:

Does not prioritise thematic calls

Does not require societal impact narratives

Evaluates purely on scientific excellence

This favors:
✔ theoretical work
✔ blue-sky research
✔ cross-disciplinary science

🧠 Common Reasons for Unsuccessful Applications

❌ Applicant not sufficiently independent
❌ Solid but not exceptional publication record
❌ Project too incremental or applied
❌ Weak articulation of long-term vision
❌ Poor career-stage fit
❌ Generic host support

Specialties

Others

Technology Development

Eligibility Requirements

This scheme is for you if:

You have a PhD or are of equivalent standing in your profession
You hold a permanent post or have an 'open-ended contract' in either a university, not-for-profit research organisation or industry in the UK
You are at a stage in your career when you would particularly benefit from establishing or strengthening personal or corporate links between academia and industry, as a foundation for long-term collaboration and development
Your research is within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research and biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics. For a full list, please see the breakdown of subject groups and areas supported by the Royal Society.

Applicants can be of any nationality and those requiring a visa are eligible to apply for a Global Talent Visa under the fast-track process of endorsement.

These fellowships are aimed at supporting new collaborations between academic and industry organisations. If you are applying to support an ongoing collaboration with an industry partner or UK University, or not-for-profit research organisation, you will be required to submit a new project involving a different university/industry department.

You should clearly state how the fellowship will benefit the not-for-profit research organisation and the industrial partner, including any potential to lead to longer-term collaboration.

Read the scheme notes for further information on eligibility. Please ensure that you meet all eligibility requirements before applying.

Eligible Countries:

United Kingdom

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: The Royal Society

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AG

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