Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowships 2026, UK.
Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowships 2026, UK.
The Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowships is one of the UK’s most prestigious deep tech accelerator programmes, designed to help researchers and recent graduates turn engineering innovations into successful startups.
Delivered through the Enterprise Hub, this fellowship provides up to £75,000 in grant funding, world-class training, mentoring, and 12 months of dedicated support completely free, with no equity taken.
Applications are expected to open in early January.
Degree Level
- Enterprise Fellowship
- Deep Tech Accelerator Programme
- (Non-degree, entrepreneurship and commercialization-focused)
Programme Duration.
- 12 months total
- First 6 months: intensive training and coaching
- Full year: mentoring and network access
AVAILABLE SUBJECTS
The Enterprise Fellowships support engineering and technology-based innovations, including:
- Deep Tech
- Engineering Innovation
- Science & Technology Spinouts
- Advanced Manufacturing
- AI & Digital Technologies
- Climate & Energy Technologies
- HealthTech & MedTech
- Robotics and Hardware Startups
BENEFITS.
Selected fellows receive:
- Up to £75,000 grant funding
- 15 days of structured entrepreneurial training
- 105+ hours of interactive workshops
- One-to-one business coaching for 6 months
- 12 months of mentoring by leading tech entrepreneurs
- Lifetime membership of the Enterprise Hub
- Access to a global network of investors, founders, and industry leaders
- Continued post-programme support
Training & Key Growth Areas.
The programme covers essential startup and scale-up skills, including:
- Leadership and operations
- Business modelling and strategy
- Value proposition development
- Market validation and customer discovery
- Marketing and sales
- Finance, fundraising, and investment readiness
Eligible Nationalities.
- Open primarily to candidates based in the UK
- Applicants must be affiliated with UK universities or research institutes
- Recent graduates and university researchers are eligible
(Nationality is not explicitly restricted, but eligibility depends on UK institutional affiliation)
Eligibility Criteria.
Applicants must:
- Are university researchers planning to spin out from UK institutions or
- recent graduates developing a technology startup
- Have a protectable engineering or technology innovation
- Possess technology validated in a lab or relevant environment
- Demonstrate ambition to lead the company as CEO or COO
- Commit full-time to developing the business during the fellowship
- Applicants are strongly advised to review the Applicant Guidance Notes before applying.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE.
To apply for the Enterprise Fellowships, follow these steps:
- Review the official eligibility criteria and guidance notes.
- Prepare a strong business and technology proposal
- Attend an introductory webinar or info session (recommended)
- Submit the online application when applications open
- Shortlisted candidates undergo interviews and assessment
- Successful applicants join the Enterprise Fellowship programme
- Applications open: Early January
PROGRAMME IMPACT
The Enterprise Fellowships have delivered outstanding results:
- 240+ entrepreneurs supported
- £633 million in follow-on funding raised
- £1.3 billion increase in company valuations
- 11 awardee companies acquired
Why Choose the Enterprise Fellowships?
- One of the UK’s top deep tech accelerators
- Designed specifically for engineering founders
- Backed by the Royal Academy of Engineering
- Free support with no equity and no IP ownership
- Lifetime access to an elite entrepreneurial network.
