Royal Society Entrepreneur In Residence Program 2026 | Study in the United Kingdom — The Royal Society

One day a week at a UK university, up to £25,000 a year to make it happen, and a two-year runway that can stretch to three. The Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence scheme puts working industrial scientists and entrepreneurs directly inside academic departments, not to conduct new research themselves but to change how students and staff think about industry.

Open to applicants of any nationality eligible to work in the UK, the scheme covers the natural sciences broadly, excluding clinical medicine.

About the Scholarship

Entrepreneurs in Residence spend roughly one day a week at a host university developing a bespoke project built around three goals: exposing staff and students to real industrial research and development, supporting the translation and commercialization of university research, and building confidence in business and entrepreneurship across the academic community. Typical activities include designing courses on industrial science and entrepreneurship, offering career guidance to students and postdocs, mentoring academics interested in startups, evaluating the commercial potential of research, and advising on funding and investment.

The award runs for two years initially, with a possible one-year extension contingent on successful annual progress reports. Around ten awards are made each cycle, with new EiRs typically starting by March of the following year after selection. Applicants weighing other UK research-adjacent funding sometimes also compare this against the British Academy Mid-Career Fellowships, which fund humanities and social science research leave rather than an ongoing industry-university bridging role, or the University of Kent Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship, a postgraduate research award rather than a role for established industry professionals.

Scholarship Benefits

• Funding of up to £25,000 per year
• Coverage for travel to and from the host institution, with accommodation support if needed
• Funding for attending relevant conferences, workshops, and training sessions
• A two-year appointment with the possibility of a one-year extension
• The chance to build stronger, lasting collaboration between universities and industry
• Professional growth through teaching, mentoring, and entrepreneurial activity
• Recognition and career development tied to the Royal Society’s name

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to applicants of any nationality who are eligible to work in the UK for the full duration of the award
• Covers all areas of life and physical sciences, including engineering, but excludes clinical medicine
• Requires a strong background in science or engineering
• Significant experience working in science within an industrial research context is required
• Must demonstrate at least one of: experience managing university-business collaborations and research commercialization, experience or strong interest in mentoring, coaching, or training, or experience of entrepreneurship such as company formation, growth, or securing investment
• Applicants can be employed full-time, part-time, or self-employed

Fields of Study Covered

• Biology and life sciences
• Chemistry
• Engineering, across disciplines
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Other natural sciences, excluding clinical medicine

Required Documents

Applications run entirely through the Royal Society’s Flexi-Grant system; applicants should be prepared to describe their proposed project, industrial background, and relevant experience directly within the online form, along with any supporting materials the system requests.

How to Apply (Step-by-Step)

1. Register or log in to the Royal Society’s Flexi-Grant grant management system.
2. Identify a potential host university and outline a bespoke project that fits the scheme’s goals.
3. Complete the online application form, detailing your industrial background and relevant experience.
4. Submit any additional documents requested through the system.
5. Review your application carefully before the deadline.
6. Submit before 19 August 2026.
7. Watch for results, expected by 30 November 2026.

Selection Process

Reviewers assess an applicant’s depth of industrial research experience alongside evidence of at least one specific strength: managing university-business collaborations, mentoring and coaching or training ability, or direct entrepreneurial experience. Because the scheme is explicitly about embedding real industry perspective into academic settings, proposals that describe a concrete, achievable project at a specific type of host institution tend to read as more credible than general statements of interest in bridging academia and industry.

Tips to Improve Your Chances

• Identify the kind of university department or research group your project would genuinely fit, rather than describing a generic industry-academia bridge
• Lead with your strongest qualifying experience, whether that is commercialization, mentoring, or entrepreneurship, rather than trying to claim all three equally
• Describe specific activities you would deliver, such as a course, mentoring program, or evaluation framework, not just broad goals
• Highlight any prior experience working alongside academic researchers or university technology transfer offices
• Attend the informational webinar if one is offered before the deadline, since it can clarify what reviewers are looking for
• Reach out to a potential host department informally before applying, since a receptive university contact can strengthen how concrete your proposal appears

Frequently Asked Questions

Can international applicants apply?

Yes. The scheme is open to applicants of any nationality, provided they are eligible to work in the UK for the full duration of the award.

Do I need a PhD to apply?

The scheme does not require a PhD specifically; it requires a strong background in science or engineering along with significant industrial research experience.

Can I apply if I am self-employed?

Yes. Applicants can be employed full-time, part-time, or self-employed at the time of application.

How much time does the role actually require?

Entrepreneurs in Residence typically spend about one day a week at their host university throughout the appointment.

Is clinical medicine covered under this scheme?

No. The scheme covers all areas of life and physical sciences, including engineering, but specifically excludes clinical medicine as a field.

Can the award be extended beyond two years?

Yes, in some cases. A one-year extension is possible, contingent on successful submission and approval of annual progress reports.

How many awards are made each cycle?

The scheme typically funds around ten Entrepreneurs in Residence per cycle, making it a genuinely selective program relative to the scientific and industrial talent pool it draws from.