The APEX Awards support established independent researchers who want to pursue interdisciplinary, curiosity-driven research with wider societal benefit. Offered in partnership by the British Academy, the Royal Society, and the Royal Academy of Engineering, and supported by the Leverhulme Trust, the scheme provides awards of up to £200,000 for projects held for up to 24 months.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: APEX Awards
Category: Research Award
Partners: The British Academy, Royal Society, and Royal Academy of Engineering
Country: United Kingdom
Duration: Up to 24 months
Application Deadline: 08 Sep 2026 – 15:00 BST
Funding Status: Up to £200,000
Eligible Applicants: Established independent researchers based in a UK university or UK not-for-profit research organisation
About the APEX Awards
The APEX Awards, formally called Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research, are designed for established independent researchers with a strong track record in their field. The scheme supports genuine interdisciplinary research that may not fit conventional funding routes.
The awards place particular emphasis on collaboration across the boundary between science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. Successful applicants are expected to work with researchers from other disciplines.
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Programme Purpose and Research Focus
The APEX Awards aim to help outstanding researchers develop their research in new directions through cross-disciplinary collaboration. The programme supports ambitious ideas that integrate knowledge, methods, or perspectives from more than one disciplinary area.
The scheme objectives include:
• Promoting collaboration across disciplines
• Supporting interdisciplinary research unlikely to be funded through conventional programmes
• Supporting researchers with a strong record who want to develop research in a new direction
• Enabling innovative research through seed funding
Research proposals should bring together fields covered by the remit of more than one of the partner Academies. These include humanities and social sciences, engineering, natural sciences, technology, computer science, materials, environmental sciences, and related fields, according to the relevant Academy remits.
Funding and Covered Costs
Applicants may apply for up to £200,000. The award can support staff costs for the Lead applicant and Co-applicant or Co-applicants, as well as research costs and public engagement costs.
Confirmed award support includes:
✓ Award value of up to £200,000
✓ Staff costs for the Lead applicant and Co-applicant or Co-applicants
✓ Research costs
✓ Public engagement costs
✓ Support for projects held for up to 24 months
✓ Up to £10,000 for public engagement activities linked to the APEX proposal
Research costs must not exceed 25% of the total award value, excluding public engagement costs. Research costs may cover consumables, equipment, and collaborative travel.
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Who Can Apply?
The Lead applicant must be an exceptional independent researcher with a strong track record and proven ability to lead collaborative work. They must be based in a UK university or UK not-for-profit research organisation.
Lead applicants must:
• Hold a permanent or fixed-term position covering the duration of the award
• Have teaching and administrative duties from which they can be relieved
• Be based in a UK university or UK not-for-profit research organisation
• Submit only one application per round
Applicants without teaching and administrative duties are not eligible to apply.
Co-applicant Requirements
Lead applicants may include up to two Co-applicants. The collaboration must show genuine integration across disciplines and across Academy remits.
Co-applicants must:
• Be exceptional independent researchers with complementary expertise
• Cover a different Academy remit where required
• Hold a permanent or fixed-term position covering the duration of the award
• Be based in a UK university or UK not-for-profit research organisation
Previous award holders may reapply. However, any new application must be for a new project and not a follow-on from the previous award.
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Application and Assessment Process
Applications must be submitted through the Royal Society’s grant management system, Flexi-Grant. Applicants should complete the application by the stated deadline and review the official scheme guidance before submission.
The official page states that applications will go through the assessment process detailed in the APEX Awards scheme guidance. Applicants will be notified of the result of the application process in April 2027.
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Key Dates
Applicants should note the official timeline provided for the current round.
• Scheme opens: 23 Jun 2026
• Application deadline: 08 Sep 2026 – 15:00 BST
• Results notification: April 2027
• Awards expected to commence: between 1 October and 31 December 2027
• Award duration: up to 24 months
Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting applications for the APEX Awards is 08 Sep 2026 – 15:00 BST. Applications should be completed through Flexi-Grant before the stated deadline.
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official application link below.
