About the opportunity
Offered by the Royal Society in partnership with the British Academy and the Royal Academy of Engineering, and generously supported by the Leverhulme Trust, the APEX (Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research) awards scheme provides seed funding for established independent researchers to pursue innovative, curiosity-driven interdisciplinary research. The scheme aims to promote collaboration across academic boundaries—specifically between science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities—that may not be supported through conventional funding programmes. It enables researchers with a strong track record to develop their research in new directions alongside partners from complementary disciplines.
Funding and benefits
- Funding of up to £200,000 to support interdisciplinary research projects
- Coverage for staff costs, including research assistants, undergraduate/Master's students, PhD students, and teaching replacement
- Optional funding of up to £10,000 for public engagement activities integrated into the main application
Who can apply?
- Must be an established independent researcher with a strong track record in science, engineering, social sciences, or humanities
- Must be based at a UK university or not-for-profit research institution for at least the duration of the project
- Research proposal must span the remit of more than one participating Academy (Royal Society, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering); single-Academy applications are not permitted
- Must collaborate with a research partner (co-applicant) from a different discipline or a different UK institution
Required documents
- Completed online application submitted through the Flexi-Grant system
- Detailed research proposal and budget justification following scheme notes guidance
When to apply
- Applications open: June 23, 2026
- Application deadline: September 8, 2026
- Funding decisions announced by: April 30, 2027
How to apply
- Submit the application online via the Royal Society Flexi-Grant system
- Applications pass through initial eligibility checks and preliminary review by two panel members with relevant expertise
- Longlisted applications undergo independent peer review
- A shortlist is prepared under the oversight of the APEX Awards Panel Chair
- Shortlisted applications with public engagement cost requests are evaluated for the public engagement component
- The APEX Awards Panel meets to review shortlisted candidates and determine final funding recommendations
Additional information
- Disabled applicants can request reasonable adjustments (such as deadline extensions, alternative application formats, or interview support) by contacting apex@royalsociety.org
- Historical award success rates: 30.8% in 2022/23 (8 awards from 26 eligible applications), 24.2% in 2023/24 (8 awards from 33 eligible applications), and 18.6% in 2024/25 (8 awards from 43 eligible applications)
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Established independent researchers with a strong track record in science, engineering, social sciences, or humanities.
- Researchers looking to pursue interdisciplinary projects that bridge at least two of the participating Academies.
- Academics based at a UK university or not-for-profit research institution.
What should you think carefully about?
- You must secure a co-applicant from a different discipline or institution, which requires pre-existing collaborative planning.
- The application process is competitive, with success rates varying between 18% and 30% in recent years.
- The project must be truly interdisciplinary, as single-Academy applications are strictly prohibited.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
The APEX Award is designed to provide the freedom to explore high-risk, high-reward research that falls outside traditional funding remits. If your goal is to push your research into new, cross-disciplinary directions and secure significant funding for staff and students, this scheme offers the necessary resources to foster innovation and build long-term collaborative partnerships.
Our take
This is an excellent opportunity for established researchers seeking to break academic silos. It is less suitable for those who do not have a strong, pre-existing interdisciplinary partnership or whose research is strictly confined to a single academic discipline.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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