Ingenious grants

Ingenious grants is sponsored by Royal Academy of Engineering. The Ingenious programme supports public engagement with engineering projects across the UK, aiming to inspire future generations of engineers and work with diverse audiences.

Ingenious public engagement grants scheme Ingenious public engagement grants scheme Ingenious is a public engagement grants scheme for projects that engage the public with engineers and engineering while providing engineers with training and opportunities in public engagement. Now open for applications Deadline: 23 September, 4pm Find out more about our new scheme for previous Ingenious awardees.

Login to your account/ Register and create a profile via the grant system The Ingenious public engagement grants scheme prioritises projects that reach diverse and underrepresented audiences including communities in the most deprived neighbourhoods in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and that engage with engineers and people of different genders, ages and ethnic backgrounds.

All projects and project teams should be based in the UK. Funding from £3,000 to £30,000 is available This grant programme has been assessed and is not intended to be a subsidy scheme in relation to the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

As such, the intended use of these funds by the Recipient is not to provide the recipient or any other enterprise with any form of economic advantage, nor is it intended for any purpose that could be considered capable of having an effect on competition and investment within the UK or trade and investment between the UK and another country or territory.

If, for any reason, you have concerns that your project may be at risk of being a subsidy because it is providing an economic advantage to an enterprise (i.e. a business offering goods or services on a market) or is capable of having an effect on competition or investment this must be declared to the Academy. Should you then be successful additional grant conditions may be applied at point of a grant offer to manage that risk.

Ingenious is supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology The Ingenious programme aims to: Support imaginative and creative public engagement, raising awareness of the diversity, nature and impact of engineering Broaden perceptions of engineering, targeting public audiences currently underrepresented in engineering Build capacity for engineering public engagement by offering engineers training and opportunities in public engagement We welcome proposals from universities, colleges and schools, youth charities, science and engineering communicators and engagement professionals as well as those working in the arts and cultural sectors.

We also welcome applications from engineers from small and medium enterprises who are interested in public engagement. Ingenious has funded over 330 projects across the UK, providing opportunities for over 10,000 engineers to take part in public engagement activities and to gain skills in communication and engagement, reaching over 4 million members of the public.

Since 2010 we have tracked the long-term impact of Ingenious projects on the engineers who have taken part. Over 90% reported benefitting from participating in an Ingenious project, 67% had improved their communication skills and 37% gained new perspectives on their work. Other benefits include developing project management, budgeting and leadership skills.

Ingenious insights webinar: Advice from previous awardees 2025: The Royal Academy of Engineering's Public Engagement team explains the Ingenious public engagement grants scheme, along with previous Ingenious awardees Briony Thomas (University of Leeds) and Richard Bennett (Reading Civic Society), who share their Ingenious project stories, discuss their successes and challenges, and answer questions.

2023: The Royal Academy of Engineering's Public Engagement team explains the Ingenious public engagement grants scheme, along with previous Ingenious awardees Mary Meehan (Manufacturing NI) and Joshua Payne (National Farmers Union), who share their Ingenious project stories, discuss their successes and challenges, and answer questions.

The Mechanics of Life brought together engineers, artists, educators, and young people to explore the mechanics of movement through dance. In conversation with the new chair of Ingenious We spoke with Pete, the newly appointed Chair of the Ingenious public engagement grants scheme. Maritime engineering for the Future As part of W5's Regatta challenge, six school teams sailed their hand-crafted cardboard boats.