The British Academy awards two Innovation Fellowships to support UK SHAPE researchers in addressing national policy challenges

The British Academy has awarded £218,000 for two new Fellowships as part of the Innovation Fellowships Route B: Policy-led funding scheme.

Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the aim of the Fellowships is to support local and national policymakers in tackling policy issues such as levelling up challenges, driving sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and reducing regional disparities in the UK.

The one-year Fellowship will allow the award holders to partner with the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Strategic Coordination Hub, based at the City-Region Economic Development Institute (City-REDI) at the University of Birmingham. The LPIP Hub is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of the Creating Opportunities, Improving Outcomes theme.

Christina Boswell, VP of Public Policy at the British Academy, said:

“The British Academy is absolutely delighted to be supporting UK early- and mid-career researchers in addressing the key policy challenges that face our nation today. From tackling regional inequalities to maintaining a sustainable economy that benefits everyone, today’s policy challenges demand innovative solutions requiring insights from across the SHAPE disciplines.”

The 2023-24 Innovation Fellowships Scheme Route B: Policy-led (Local Policy Innovation Partnership) awardees are:

Please note: Awards are arranged alphabetically by surname of the grant recipient. The institution is that given at the time of application.

Dr Victoria Barker

Coventry University

Value awarded: £107,181.85

Dr Jake Barnes

University of Oxford

Value awarded: £110,784.71

The awards listed are those for the 2023-24 Innovation Fellowships Scheme Route B: Policy-led (Local Policy Innovation Partnership). Previous award announcements can be found on the Innovation Fellowships Scheme – Route B (Policy-led) past awards page.