Royal Society Short Industry Fellowship 2025-26 is now open for applications, offering a prestigious opportunity for researchers to strengthen collaborations between academia and industry in the UK. This fellowship is part of the Royal Society’s Industry Program, designed to support early-career and experienced researchers who want to bridge the gap between research and real-world innovation.
Through this fellowship, participants gain hands-on experience in both academic and industrial environments, fostering knowledge exchange and mobility across the natural sciences. The Royal Society Short Industry Fellowship 2025-26 not only enhances professional development but also drives impactful contributions to science and technology. If you are looking to advance your career while making a meaningful difference in research and innovation, this program is the perfect opportunity.
Benefits of Royal Society Short Industry Fellowship 2025-26
- The Short Industry fellowship is a funded program that provides generous assistance.
- Funding includes coverage of the applicant’s or their postdoctoral researcher’s basic salary during the secondment.
- Similarly, research-related expenses can be claimed up to £1,000.
- Fellows can undertake the award on a full-time basis for 3 to 6 months, or opt for a 50% part-time arrangement for up to 12 months. Hence, allowing them to stay connected with their home institution.
- It offers the opportunity to pursue a short-term fellowship instead of a longer engagement.
Eligibility Criteria for Royal Society Short Industry Fellowship 2025-26
- Applicants of any nationality can apply.
- They must hold a PhD or have equivalent professional standing.
- Similarly, fellows must be employed in a UK university, a not-for-profit research organization, or in UK industry, with either a permanent role or a fixed-term contract that extends beyond the fellowship period.
- Research must fall within the Royal Society’s natural sciences remit, which covers areas such as biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, and physics.
- Current holders of Royal Society-funded early career fellowships (e.g., University Research Fellowship, Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship) are not eligible, as their existing terms already support industry collaboration.
- Applicants cannot submit parallel applications for the same project to both the Royal Society Industry Fellowship and the Short Industry Fellowship in the same round.
- Postdoctoral researchers are not eligible to apply as the main applicant.
How to Apply for Royal Society Short Industry Fellowship 2025-26
- Apply online via the official website.
- Ensure you meet all eligibility criteria before starting.
- Complete your application through the Flexi-Grant system.
- Register on the official portal and provide accurate details.
- Upload any additional documents if required.
- Submit your application before the deadline.
- Final decisions will be announced by 31 December 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Royal Society Short Industry Fellowship 2025-26 offers 3–6 month secondments (or up to 12 months part-time) for UK researchers to work between academia and industry. It funds salary + up to £1,000 research costs. Applicants need a PhD, UK post, and must not apply concurrently to Industry Fellowship.
What is the Royal Society Short Industry Fellowship 2025-26?
The Short Industry Fellowship enables UK-based academic or industrial researchers to spend 3–6 months (or pro rata 12 months part-time) working across academia and industry, promoting mobility and knowledge exchange.
What are the key aims of the program?
It supports mobility between academia and industry, helps researchers form new collaborations, advances researcher career development, and boosts knowledge exchange in science and technology.
What is the duration and work arrangement of the fellowship?
Fellowships last 3–6 months full-time, or up to 12 months part-time (50%) so fellows can remain linked to their home institution.
How much funding is available under this scheme?
Funding covers the fellow’s (or their PDRA’s) basic salary during secondment and research expenses up to £1,000 per fellowship.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must hold a PhD (or equivalent), be employed in a UK university, not-for-profit research organisation or UK industry (fixed or permanent contract), with contract end date past fellowship end.
Are postdoctoral researchers (PDRAs) eligible to apply as main applicants?
No, PDRAs are not eligible as main applicants. However, the main applicant may request their PDRA to do work under the collaborative project, provided the PDRA has tenure through the fellowship period.
Can I apply simultaneously to Industry Fellowship and Short Industry Fellowship with similar projects?
No — applications with similar projects may not be submitted concurrently to both the Industry Fellowship and the Short Industry Fellowship schemes.
When are the application dates for 2025-26?
The scheme opens 28 August 2025 and closes 23 October 2025 at 15:00 (UK time). Decisions expected December 2025.
What kinds of research topics are supported?
Research must fall within the Royal Society’s remit of natural sciences — including biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics — excluding clinical trials or humanities.
Discover more from Scholarship Union
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
