From an AI-enhanced bed improving the quality of respiratory care, to lanterns powered by ocean water, the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships programme has appointed a new cohort of disruptive innovators to address some of the world’s most pressing social and economic challenges on both a local and global scale.
Now in its eleventh year of supporting social entrepreneurship globally, the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) programme today announces funding for 96 innovation leaders from 14 different countries to join the 2025 cohort. A total of 76 innovators will join the flagship international startup programme LIF Global. A further 20 innovators, with customer validated solutions have been accepted onto Advance, focusing on rapid scaleup and international growth.
To date, the Academy’s international entrepreneurship programme LIF has worked with over 1,470 pioneering innovators from 19 countries – including Brazil, Thailand and South Africa – to bolster the impact delivered through their novel technology, supporting them to:
- Create 9,700+ skilled jobs
- Raise $489m in further funding
- Register 1,700+ IPs
Working to address the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), LIF innovators work to promote sustainable economic and social development through locally engineered solutions with the potential for international impact. Some examples of what the 2025 cohort are developing include:
- A 3D-printed digital braille device designed to increase public access to quality education for the visually impaired
- A biogas digester promoting sustainable waste management and clean energy generation
- Flexible robots able to work in dangerously tight areas deemed unfit for human activity
Innovators joining LIF Global benefit from a bespoke programme of training, mentoring and networking designed to aid innovators in bringing their ground-breaking innovations to market. This support is offered through events both in-country, and here in the UK.
Facilitating rapid scaleup and international growth, Advance offers a programme of relationship-building and business growth modules for those with a customer-validated product. Designed to identify and bolster the wider global impact that purpose-driven, novel technology can achieve, Advance 2025 will accelerate innovations engineering a better tomorrow under the theme of ‘Future Planet: Biodiversity, Food Security, New Materials, and Energy’.
Upon graduation, innovators enter the LIF alumni community of 1,470+ like-minded individuals, where they continue to receive opportunities for training, networking, and support.
Academy President Sir John Lazar CBE FREng says:
“The Leaders in Innovation Fellowships programme has been invaluable in providing budding entrepreneurs with the business knowledge, mentorship, and networking opportunities essential for transforming innovative ideas into impact-driven businesses.
“The need for social entrepreneurship is as crucial as ever, with the adoption of novel solutions not only helping to address complex global issues, but to create thousands of highly skilled jobs in underserved communities around the globe. The LIF programme has played a major role in helping such ventures to flourish.”
Chair of the LIF Steering Group Ian Ritchie CBE FREng says:
“The LIF programme is vital in bridging the gap between technical innovation, and real-world impact. It provides innovators with the business acumen, mentorship, and network needed to bring their innovations to market, and to scale their solutions globally. Through offering continuous support, LIF ensures that cutting-edge innovation reaches its full potential, and has a significant, positive impact on society."
Director of Enterprise Ana Avaliani says:
“Today’s most pressing global challenges demand more incremental solutions. Our newest LIF Cohort of deep tech founders represent a convergence of breakthrough science, and entrepreneurial vision: pioneers who dare to reimagine what’s possible, and reshape the world. We are proud to be supporting these exceptional innovators, and catalysing the next wave of transformative innovations.”
LIF innovators
Left to right:
Row One: Jitesh Pandey, Marco Antonio Lopez Trinidad, Phan Thi Tuyet Mai, Tanyaluck, Thientunyakit, José Suárez, Charusluk Viphavakit, Mary Grace 'Orange' Silverio, João Pedro da Cunha Molina, Alessandra Serain, Daniel Arturo Leal Chavez.
Row Two: Thabile Makhoba, Marcos Vinícius Batista Nicolino, Prerit Mittal, Anderson Camilo Mesa Oquendo, Rajesh Yadav, Arlene Joaquin, Danielle Gregorio Gomes, Vishnu Sunil, André Luiz Rocha D´Oliveira, Alejandro Velez Patrouilleau.
Row Three: Jocelyn Reyes, Ahmad Syahrin Idris, Diego Mauricio Murillo Gomez, Audomaro Durán, Bárbara Silva, Thunnalin Winuprasith, Usa Boonyuen, Nguyen Phuong Thao, Camilo Herrera, Carla Souza.
Row Four: Deval Karia, Mariah Mikhaela Chua, Alantino Raven Daniel, Noor Azlina Hassan, Siti Shawalliah Idris, Erick Eduardo Guzmán Quezada, Eugenia Zhuo, Maaz Khan, Dao Viet Hang, Hieu Pham.
Row Five: Jose Marco Latosa, José Suárez, Keletso Lekwakwe, Kok Keong Chong, Phromphat Thansirichaisree, Thi-Le Hang Dang, Pham Thi Loan, Francsico Blockstrand, Ntandoyenkosi Malusi Mkhize, Manoj Sanker Ponnuswamy Ravichandran.
Row Six: Mary Grace 'Orange' Silverio, Mary Phillips, Mauricio Ramirez, Milton Duque Cano, Minh Nguyen, Monalyn Oloroso, Monet Concepcion Detras, Muhammad Syazwan Johari, Nattapak Darumas, Nur Ayuni Jamal.
Row Seven: Relebohile Matthew Matobole, Sachin Dubey, Sergio Arias, Shubham Vishvakerma, Sony Padilla Aquino, Soorathep Kheawhom, Storm Rhoda, Sudipto Mukhopadhyay, Suket Amin, Supawadee Tubglam.
Notes for editors
- Leaders in Innovation Fellowships provides a personalised approach focused on acquiring foundational entrepreneurship skills. These then lead to accelerated commercial growth, job creation, and investment in the businesses our programme supports. We don’t take equity, fees or IP. Our ability to foster entrepreneurship globally is underpinned by the Academy’s uniquely prestigious global network of Fellows, mentors, innovators, investors, delivery partners, and in-country partners.
- The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.