Royal Society Short Industry Fellowships 2021

Collaborations between academia and early-stage companies are particularly encouraged. It is anticipated that the personal and corporate links established by the researcher between the two sectors in the UK will seed longer-term collaborations and contribute to their long-term future development.

Secondments can be held for a period of between three and six months full time, or up to 12 months part time.

These appointments are funded by the Royal Society.

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

Research must be within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences, which includes but is not limited to biological research, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and physics. For a full list, please see the breakdown of subject groups and areas supported by the Royal Society. The Royal Society does not cover clinical medicine (such as patient orientated research and clinical trials), social sciences or humanities, other than when working in partnership with organisations.

You can apply for this scheme if you:

• hold a PhD or are of equivalent standing in your profession
• hold a post in either a UK university, a not-for-profit research organisation or UK industry, which is either a permanent or fixed-term position with an end date after the expected end of the Short Industry Fellowship

The applicant can request their postdoctoral researcher to work on the collaborative project at the partner organisation. Applicants in this instance must ensure their nominated postdoctoral researcher has sufficient tenure in their post to cover the duration of the fellowship. The applicant will be expected to lead the collaborative project.

We encourage applications involving small companies and/or early stage companies provided they have a well-established research team and facilities. Self-employed consultants are not eligible to apply as the industrial partner.

We also actively seek applicants from underrepresented groups to increase the diversity of our grant holders with a focus on improved gender balance, greater representation from BAME groups and wider UK institutional reach.

The scheme provides the applicant’s and/or their postdoctoral researcher’s basic salary while on secondment. The employing organisation continues to pay national insurance and pension contributions.

Research expenses may be claimed up to a value of £1,000.

Awards can be for a minimum of three months or up to six months full-time or pro rata, i.e. could be held at 50% part-time for up to 12 months enabling fellows to maintain links with their employing institution more easily.

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 processes to help ensure that all talented applicants have an equitable chance to succeed as per the assessment criteria. This includes ensuring all panel members are briefed on unconscious bias in decision making as part of our assessment process.

The Royal Society welcomes applications from scientists with disabilities and provides adjustments to ensure that they can participate fully in the selection process. If you need an adjustment when accessing the application form, attending interviews, or for any other part of the application process, please contact the Grants team on innovationgrants@royalsociety.org or +44 20 7451 2666.