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Applications open July 15, 2025. Deadline September 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM UK time. Project start February 1, 2026.
The Smart Data Research UK Fellowships provide up to £200,000 per project for researchers using smart data to address real-world challenges across the United Kingdom. Funded by UKRI through Smart Data Research UK, this program supports up to ten projects lasting 18 months, with start dates by February 2026.
Applicants must be based at eligible UK organizations and demonstrate strong data skills with a compelling research question aligned to one of four SDR UK themes: productivity and prosperity, health and wellbeing, sustainability, or communities and places. Researchers at all career stages may apply, with early career researchers particularly encouraged.
Projects may use smart datasets from SDR UK's six national data services or combine smart data with administrative and survey data sources.
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Smart Data Research UK | Fellowships Smart Data Research UK Fellowships In July 2025, we announced the launch of our Smart Data Research UK Fellowships , a new funding opportunity to support innovative research that uses smart data to help solve real-world challenges.
Up to £200,000 (FEC) per project Support from SDR UK’s national data services, including help accessing relevant datasets Opportunities to collaborate with a growing community of smart data researchers A platform to influence policy, improve services, and shape the future of responsible data use We will fund up to ten projects, with projects starting by 1 February 2026. All projects must finish within 18 months.
Application deadline: 23 September 2025 at 4:00pm UK time. Applications for the SDR UK Fellowships must be submitted through the UKRI Funding Finder , where you will also find detailed application guidance. We want to hear from researchers with big ideas.
You don’t need to be a smart data expert, but you should have strong data skills, a compelling question, a creative approach, and a clear view of the impact your work could lead to. Projects must clearly align with at least one of SDR UK’s four research themes : Productivity and prosperity We welcome proposals from all disciplines and career stages, with encouragement for early career researchers to apply.
This opportunity is open only to applicants based at an eligible UK organisation . Researchers who are named as Lead and Co-lead with more than 0. 2 FTE on SDR UK’s Data Services grants are not eligible to apply.
SDR UK Accelerator award holders with more than six months left on their award on 31 January 2026 are not eligible to apply. Applicants may use smart datasets exclusively, or in combination with other data, for example, administrative and traditional survey data. While we encourage you to use smart datasets held by Smart Data Research UK’s six data services , this is not a prerequisite for applications.
Financial Data Service (FINDS) – Banking and finance data to understand economic resilience and inequality Geographic Data Service (GeoDS) – Linked, location-based data to explore place-based outcomes and disparities Healthy and Sustainable Places Data Service (HASP) – Retail, transport and lifestyle data for cross-cutting health and sustainability research Imago, Data Service for Imagery – Satellite imagery to uncover patterns in environment, housing, and wellbeing Smart Data Donation Service (SDDS) – Enables citizens to donate their digital trace data for scientific research Smart Energy Data Service (SENSE) – Energy system and infrastructure data to support reducing energy disparities and improving energy efficiency Access to required datasets must be established at the time of application.
Confirmation via letters of support from relevant data controllers and/or data services must be included with the application. Watch a recording of the SDR UK Fellowships Introduction webinar , where the Smart Data Research UK team outlines what’s involved in the application process. The SDR UK Fellowships have three key objectives: 1.
Advance impactful and innovative research Conduct original, high-impact research that demonstrates how smart data can address a significant real-world challenge. 2. Develop research leadership Use the Fellowship to grow as a leader in smart data research – developing new skills, networks and areas of expertise.
3. Strengthen the smart data research community Play an active role in building a connected, collaborative community. Fellows will take part in activities that support collaboration, knowledge sharing, and long-term impact.
“The SDR UK Fellowship is a major opportunity to unlock the potential of emerging data for public good. These awards will support ambitious, impact-focused projects that show how digital traces from our everyday lives – from apps to smart meters – can reveal new solutions to the big challenges facing the UK. We want to empower researchers with the tools, partnerships and data they need to do groundbreaking work that serves society.
” Joe Cuddeford, Director, Smart Data Research UK Applications open: 15 July 2025 – see UKRI Funding Finder Information webinar: 29 July 2025 – watch a recording of the SDR UK Fellowships Introduction webinar , where the Smart Data Research UK team outlines what’s involved in the application process.
Application deadline: 23 September 2025 Projects start: 1 February 2026 For any enquiries related to the SDR UK Fellowships, please get in touch: smartdataresearch@ukri. org .
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Key questions and narrative sections extracted from the solicitation.
How does your project align with SDR UK research themes?
What datasets will you use and have you secured access?
What is your project timeline within the 18-month maximum?
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Must be based at an eligible UK organisation. Open to all disciplines and career stages. Named Lead/Co-lead researchers with >0.2 FTE on SDR UK Data Services grants are ineligible. SDR UK Accelerator award holders with >6 months remaining as of Jan 31, 2026 are ineligible. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to £200,000 per project (Full Economic Cost) Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is September 23, 2025. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
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The UKRI Policy Fellowships 2025, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, offer 18-month placements for academics to co-design research with UK government and What Works Network host organizations. Awards range from £180,000 to £280,000 and support three fellowship tracks: core policy fellows, Natural Hazards and Resilience policy fellows, and What Works Innovation fellows. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent research experience, be based at a UKRI-eligible UK organization, and possess relevant subject matter or methodological expertise. Government-hosted positions target early to mid-career academics, while What Works fellowships welcome all career stages. Fellows work directly with policymakers to bridge academic research and policy development on pressing national and global challenges. The application deadline is July 15, 2025.
The Ernest Rutherford Fellowship 2025 from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) supports early career researchers pursuing independent research within STFC's core science programme. Fellowships last up to five years and are funded at 80% of full economic cost, with the host organization covering the remainder. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent experience, demonstrate clear leadership potential, and be hosted by an eligible UK research organization with an STFC ERF quota. Candidates currently holding tenured academic positions at lecturer level are not eligible. Each host department has a strict application limit, so prospective fellows should contact their proposed department well ahead of the October 2025 deadline to confirm accommodation within the quota.