Nominations open for APEX Awards (UK)

The APEX Awards (Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research) offer established independent 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 curiosity-driven research to benefit wider society. Successful applicants will be expected to work in collaboration with relevant researchers from other disciplines.

Objectives 

• 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 Priority Areas

Subject Covered

• The British Academy Remit – In 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.
• The Royal Society Remit – Natural sciences (including agriculture, mathematics, technology, computer science, materials, medical, environmental and engineering sciences, but excluding clinical medicine).

Funding Information

• Support: Up to £200,000 to fund staff costs for the lead applicant and the co-applicant and associated research costs representing no more than 25% of the total award value.
• Applicants will also have the option to request funds (up to £10,000) to support public engagement activities relating to their APEX proposal, inclusive of the maximum award value of £200,000.
• Awards are expected to commence between 1st October and 31st December 2025 and can be held for up to 24 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• The scheme is open to applicants of all nationalities.
• Applicants must be exceptional researchers with excellent track records as established independent researchers (this can include engineering researchers, humanities and social sciences scholars and scientists).
• Applicants 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. All applications must be supported by the applicant’s Head of Department, who will be asked to provide assurance that the researcher will be permitted to use the institution’s facilities during the period of the award and can be released/partially released from teaching duties (if required).
• Applications must be within the remit of more than one of the Academies. For example, applications that span the remit of The British Academy and The Royal Academy of Engineering are encouraged but applications which are within the remit of just one Academy will not be permitted.
• Applicants may only submit one application per round. Previous award holders may apply but any reapplication should be a new project and not a follow on from the previous award.
• Host Organisation Eligibility
  • Applicants must be based in either a UK University or not-for-profit research organisation for at least the duration of the project.

Assessment Criteria

• The primary considerations in the assessment process will be:
  • The applicant’s strong scientific and/or engineering/or social sciences and/or humanities track record, and proven track record in collaborative research
  • The strength of the interdisciplinary research collaboration and team
  • The quality, novelty, and potential of the proposed interdisciplinary research project
  • The potential of the proposed project to enable the applicant to develop a new direction for their research and establish new tools, methodologies or applications derived by the synergy of diverse fields
  • The feasibility of the proposal and whether the applicant recognises the inherent risk of failure associated with this type of research and their strategy for minimizing these risks.

For more information, visit The Royal Society.