APEX awards
The APEX awards fund established UK researchers to pursue bold, interdisciplinary projects integrating science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities through cross-academy collaboration.
Funder: Royal Society
Due Dates: September 8, 2026 (Full application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to £200,000 per project for up to 24 months; includes staff, research, and public engagement costs.
Summary: Supports established UK-based researchers to pursue innovative, interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities.
Key Information: Applicants must have teaching/admin duties and collaborate across at least two Academy remits; public engagement funding available.
Description
The APEX awards (Academies Partnership in Supporting Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research) are a collaborative funding initiative between the Royal Society, the British Academy, and the Royal Academy of Engineering, supported by the Leverhulme Trust. The scheme is designed to promote genuine interdisciplinary research, particularly at the boundaries between science, engineering, social sciences, and humanities. It provides established, independent researchers with seed funding to develop bold new research directions through cross-disciplinary collaboration that may not be supported by conventional funding streams. The scheme places a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from researchers with varied backgrounds and career paths.
