FAQ

The primary objective of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) Global programme is to build the capacity of engineers and researchers for entrepreneurship and commercialisation of innovations which support the social welfare and economic development of emerging and developing countries.

Through their research, applicants must have developed (or co-developed), or be in the process of developing (or co-developing) a new technological innovation at technological readiness level 4 or above. Applicants should have the ambition to take a leading role in the creation of a new business to commercialise this innovation, and be able to demonstrate fluency in English.

When attending a LIF event:

• We will accommodate people who need accessibility adjustments   
• We will provide a prayer room
• We will provide cater for any dietary requirements and/or allergies that are flagged with us
• We will provide ensuite rooms (no shared bathrooms) to any participants entitled to a hotel room

The LIF Global programme provides:

• Virtual and in-country training events to provide an opportunity to connect with other innovators
• A UK-based entrepreneurship training and networking programme, to provide an opportunity to connect with the global LIF community 
• Expert 1:1 mentoring 
• Intensive remote training, tailored to each participant’s unique goals and challenges 
• Lifelong membership to the LIF Community

Applications for LIF Global 2026 closed on 11 September at 2pm (BST).

Applications are shortlisted by our in-country partners, and up to 10 applications per country will be selected for review by the Academy.

If you are successful and agree to join the programme, you will need to sign a Letter of Offer (non-grant agreement).

This agreement has been developed to ensure that your innovation:

• aligns with Academy values
• is used for the purposes outlined within your application
• is managed in compliance with:
  • our funders' agreements
  • UK legislation
  • funding reporting best practice

We expect you to be responsive and communicative with both your mentor and Academy staff throughout the duration of the programme. We want to hear about our awardee's success and challenges so that we can best support their commercialisation journey.

Advance is a bespoke programme of relationship-building and business growth modules for entrepreneurs who are ready to scale and grow internationally.

The programme aims to help innovators to scale their businesses, expand their networks into the UK, and further develop their leadership skills within the LIF community.

Applicants must be working on an innovation that meets the theme of 'Accessibility, Assistive, and Inclusive Technologies'. We are encouraging members of the LIF alumni community (LIF 1-7, LIF Global 22-25), as well as other entrepreneurs working on solutions that meet the criteria from the following countries: Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Türkiye, Vietnam.

When attending a LIF event:

• We will accommodate people who need accessibility adjustments   
• We will provide a prayer room
• We will provide halal food, vegetarian food, and cater for any dietary requirement/allergies 
• We will provide ensuite rooms (no shared bathrooms) to any participants entitled to a hotel room

The main eligibility criteria and thematic eligibility criteria for the programme are set out in the above sections. In general, you should ask yourself whether your innovation helps to establish a more inclusive and equitable society through innovation.

If you are still unsure, you are welcome to contact the LIF team at [email protected] to discuss your application. As with LIF Global, Advance does not accept innovations with a primary application in the defence, military, or fossil-fuel-based energy sectors.

The Advance programme can help to:

• Assess where you and your business are
• Boost your confidence and soft-skills
• Enhance your leadership and entrepreneurial skills
• Strengthen your business strategy
• Improve your engineering processes
• Map UK networks, collaborations, and partnerships
• Learn to measure and communicate your impact and outcomes
• Connect with an exceptional and likeminded community of Alumni

Applications for Advance 2026 will open on 26 August 2024 at 2pm (BST).

Applications to Advance 2026 will first be checked for eligibility by Academy staff members. Eligible applications will go to a Selection Panel, comprising of Fellows of the Academy and other  experts who will perform an in-depth review into the application, including reviewing the innovation, business, and reasons for wanting to participate. Sometimes, some candidates may be contacted for further information that is required by the Selection Panel before they can make their decision.

 The Selection Panel will consider:

• Adherence to all entry and eligibility requirements
• The potential social, economic, or environmental benefit of the innovation to socially excluded groups
• The benefit that Advance could provide for the applicant, their business and/or their team

We expect you to be responsive and communicative with your mentor and Academy staff throughout the duration of the programme. We want to hear about our alumni’s success and challenges so we can best support them in their commercialisation journey.

Innovators who have competed the Advance programme are expected to have:

• Enhanced their soft-skills and confidence
• Liaised and engaged with a network of contacts
• Designed bespoke pitch-decks fit to different audiences
• Developed a deeper understanding of their IP, products, and engineering processes
• Built a supportive community
• Strengthened their teams
• Developed an understanding of the market and future opportunities
• Created metrics and impact measurements to monitor and evaluate performance

The Global Talent visa is a UK immigration category designed for talented and promising individuals from the fields of science, engineering, medicine and humanities, digital technology, and arts and culture, who wish to continue their professional career in the UK.

The visa allows you to live and work in the UK for up to five years, and you can extend the visa after this period, or apply for settlement.

Alumni of the Advance programme are eligible to apply for the fast-track Global Talent Visa under route two, through the endorsement of the Academy for the UK's Home Office.