What is the Bhattacharyya Award?
The Bhattacharya Award is an annual award to celebrate sustained, strategic collaboration between academia and industry.
Who can apply?
Universities and colleges are invited to make one submission per year. Submissions may be in any discipline.
This award is open to submissions which demonstrate exceptional collaborations between academia and industry from all disciplines and not only those within the Academy’s engineering and technology remit. The purpose of this award is to celebrate the very best of academia-industry collaboration as a whole and submissions are encouraged from the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, medical sciences and biological sciences.
What is the prize?
A prize of £25,000 will be awarded to the winning team for knowledge transfer activities.
Finalists will be awarded £5,000 which can be used to cover the video production costs or any worthwhile activities that help to further develop the collaboration.
What are the key dates?
Applications open: 31 March 2026
Application deadline: 7 July 2026
Shortlisting meeting: 15 September 2026
Finalist video submission: 1 December 2026
Final judging meeting: January 2027
Award celebration event: April 202
Does the collaboration need to involve engineering?
No. The award is open to collaborations from all disciplines.
Does the collaboration need to still be active?
Yes. The partnership should still be active at the time of application.
How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted via the online grants system.
Can multiple SMEs be involved?
Yes. Applications may include more than one SME partner.
Can collaborations involve multiple universities?
Yes. Cross‑university collaborations are welcome where partnerships are genuine and substantive.
Can multiple SMEs be involved?
Yes. Applications may include more than one SME partner.
Can startups apply?
Yes, provided they meet the SME definition and demonstrate meaningful collaboration with a university.
Can a university apply to both strands?
Yes. Institutions may submit one application to each strand.
Do I need to submit a video with my application?
No. A video is only required for finalists in Stage 2 of the application process. If shortlisted, you will receive support to produce a 3-minute video for the final assessment.
Can unsuccessful applicants reapply?
Yes. Previous applicants are welcome to submit a new application in future rounds.
Is AI use permitted in the application?
Partial use of AI tools is allowed but must be disclosed, detailing the tools used and their purpose.
Who do I contact for further information?
If you have any questions about the Bhattacharyya Award, please contact the Awards Team: [email protected]