The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has announced the relaunch of its successful Enterprise Fellowship programme.
It supports the next generation of Scotland’s entrepreneurial academics to turn their ideas into practical applications that improve the lives of Scottish people.
The renewed Fellowship is aimed at postdoctoral researchers based at a UK higher education institution looking to translate their research into a commercial venture.
Led by RSE Fellows Professor Simon Best, world-renowned cyclist Mark Beaumont, and other Fellows of the RSE, the scheme has returned following extensive work with previous Enterprise Fellows and the RSE’s networks in the research and business communities.
Beaumont said: “The RSE Enterprise Fellowship Scheme has a brilliant track record of transforming research into real world application and turning ambition into business success.
“We are excited to relaunch it in 2026, backing the next generation of entrepreneurs and bringing to life the RSE’s motto of ‘knowledge made useful’ through funding, peer group learning and business-world experience.”
The scheme originally ran between 1997 and 2021, supporting 272 Fellows from 36 UK universities, and created 166 businesses. It was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic to be reviewed to ensure it properly met the changing needs of the business sector.
Enterprise Fellows receive financial support for their idea, one year’s salary, as well as training, networking and mentorship from a wide range of Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and previous Enterprise Fellowship awardees.
The Fellowships, administered by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, include a development fund of up to £10,000 to develop their businesses.
The renewed version of the Fellowships includes a potential extra £10,000 of funding specifically geared towards international expansion.
Professor Simon Best, chair of the Enterprise Fellowship scheme, added: “We are ready to empower a new generation of serial entrepreneurs with realistic ambitions for global, social, and commercial impact. What sets this scheme apart is the depth of knowledge and the mentoring power, experience and networks of our Fellows – in Scotland, the UK and around the world.”
Applications for the Enterprise Fellowship scheme open at noon on 17 August. The call closes on 12 October. Applications are made via the RSE’s website: rse.org.uk
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