APEX Awards (Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research) offer established researchers, with a strong track record in their respective area and proven ability to lead collaborative work, an exciting opportunity to pursue genuine interdisciplinary and blue skies, curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society.
Successful applicants will be expected to work in collaboration with relevant researchers from other disciplines.
The objectives of this scheme are to:
- promote collaboration across disciplines, with a particular emphasis on the boundary between science, engineering, and the social sciences and humanities
- support outstanding interdisciplinary research which is unlikely to be supported through conventional funding programmes
- support researchers with an outstanding track record in developing their research in a new direction through collaboration with partners from other disciplines
- enable outstanding researchers to focus on advancing their innovative research through seed funding
The scheme aims to promote collaborations that push beyond traditional boundaries and integrate knowledge and approaches from different subject fields covered by the remit of more than one of the Academies.
- The British Academy remit – Any discipline within the social sciences and humanities. In some cases, creative and professional practice may play a significant role in shaping the methods and/or outcomes of research. In all proposals, whether practice-led or not, a clear scholarly rationale is required for the choice of research methods, processes, and outputs.
- The Royal Academy of Engineering remit – Applications are welcome from any engineering discipline. Engineering is defined in its broadest sense, encompassing a wide range of diverse fields, including computer science and materials. Broad engineering categories can be found under the list of Panels on the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Fellowship page.
- The Royal Society remit – Natural sciences (including agriculture, mathematics, technology, computer science, materials, medical, environmental and engineering sciences, but excluding clinical medicine). Submissions from clinically qualified scientists may be considered. The Society does not support clinical or interventional research on humans at the individual or group level.
ELIGIBILITY
The scheme is open to applicants of all nationalities.
Applicants must be exceptional researchers with excellent track records as established researchers.
They will be expected to collaborate with a research partner (co-applicant) from a different discipline to their own, based at the same institution or a different university in the UK.
Projects which are within the remit of just one Academy will not be permitted.
Applicants that do not have teaching and administrative duties from which they can be relieved are not eligible to apply.
VALUE AND DURATION
The maximum award value is £200,000 (associated research costs can represent no more than 25% of the total award value).
‘Staff Costs’ can include funds to support research assistants, undergraduate/Master’s students and PhD students in addition to teaching replacement.
Funding (up to £10,000) to support public engagement activities can also be included within the maximum award value.
KEY DATES
Deadline: 8 September 2026
Awards are expected to commence between 1 October and 31 December 2026
More information, including how to apply, success rates and details of previous awards, can be found on the opportunity webpage.