The Royal Academy Of Engineering

Charity Number: 293074

Annual Expenditure: £60.3M
Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website: www.raeng.org.uk

Phone: 020 7766 0648

Email: info@raeng.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £20+ million (recent Chairs in Emerging Technologies programme)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (highly competitive)
  • Decision Time: 10-11 months (September deadline to August start)
  • Grant Range: £3,000 - £625,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK national with international partnerships

Contact Details

  • Website: www.raeng.org.uk
  • Phone: 020 7766 0648
  • Email: info@raeng.org.uk
  • Public Engagement Support: engagement@raeng.org.uk (020 7766 0772)
  • Address: 3-4 Carlton House Terrace (Prince Philip House), London

Overview

Founded in 1976 as the Fellowship of Engineering, the Royal Academy of Engineering became a royal charter organization in 1983 and adopted its current name in 1992. The Academy is a registered charity (293074) that harnesses the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy. With His Majesty the King as Patron since 2024, the Academy distributes over £20 million annually through various programmes. Their 2025-2030 strategy focuses on “Engineering Better Lives” through progressive leadership, equity and inclusion, excellence for impact, collaboration, and innovation. The Academy has distributed over £100 million through its Research Fellowship scheme alone over 20 years, supporting more than 200 early-career researchers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Research Fellowships: £625,000 over 5 years (80% FEC) - flagship programme for early-career researchers
  • Ingenious Public Engagement Awards: £3,000 - £30,000 - projects engaging public with engineering
  • APEX Awards: Up to £200,000 - cross-disciplinary curiosity-led research (with British Academy/Royal Society)
  • Regional Talent Engines: £20,000 - pre-accelerator programme for early-stage founders
  • Research Chairs/Senior Fellowships: Up to £225,000 over 5 years
  • Diversity Impact Programme: Up to £100,000 - addressing unequal outcomes for diverse students
  • Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation: £25,000 prize for Sub-Saharan Africa innovations

Priority Areas

  • Emerging technologies and innovation
  • Public engagement with engineering
  • Diversity and inclusion in engineering
  • Early-career researcher development
  • Cross-disciplinary collaboration
  • Sustainable society and inclusive economy
  • Engineering entrepreneurship

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects not involving UK residents or institutions
  • Non-engineering related activities
  • Repeat applications from previous prize winners (varies by programme)

Governance and Leadership

The Academy is governed by a 12-member Trustee Board elected by the Fellowship. Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University, serves as Trustee and Vice-President. The Board ensures the Academy's strategy delivers public benefit from engineering and technology innovation.

Key leadership quote from Professor Jennings: "It's a pivotal time for engineering and technology, so I'm looking forward to working with my fellow Trustees to create a meaningful impact and drive innovation in the sector."

The Academy emphasizes that “trusted and capable leadership is needed to deliver strategic advantage through science and technology” and maintains that "government must own this agenda as custodians of the nation's ambitions."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • Research Fellowships: Through Grant Management System; many institutions run internal selection processes
  • Ingenious Awards: Online portal opens early July 2025
  • Other programmes: Specific application systems detailed on programme pages

Decision Timeline

  • Research Fellowships: September deadline, fellowships begin August-October following year (10-11 months)
  • Ingenious: Applications typically close September, programme runs following year
  • Institutional caps: Many programmes limit submissions per institution

Success Rates

Not explicitly published, but indicators suggest high competition:

  • Institutional submission caps (e.g., Oxford limited to 4 Research Fellowship candidates)
  • Over 200 Research Fellows supported from thousands of applications over 20 years
  • Highly selective process with rigorous peer review

Reapplication Policy

Encouraged: “Applicants who have applied to the scheme before and were unsuccessful are eligible to reapply” (Research Fellowships)

Restrictions: Previous winners cannot reapply to same programmes (varies by scheme)

Application Success Factors

Direct Academy guidance:

  • “We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups across engineering”
  • Emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion in all programmes
  • Projects should align with “building a sustainable society and an inclusive economy”

Key success indicators:

  • Strong engineering credentials with clear innovation potential
  • Evidence of public benefit and societal impact
  • Demonstration of collaborative approach
  • Clear research excellence and leadership potential
  • Alignment with Academy's strategic priorities

Recent successful examples:

  • Projects addressing climate change and sustainability
  • Engineering solutions for healthcare and wellbeing
  • Technologies for inclusive economic growth
  • Cross-disciplinary research with real-world applications

Application tips:

  • Start early - many institutions have internal deadlines months before Academy deadlines
  • Engage with Academy Fellows for mentorship and guidance
  • Demonstrate clear public engagement or impact strategy
  • Show how project aligns with Academy's values and mission

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Early engagement essential: Contact host institutions well in advance due to internal selection processes
  • Emphasis on impact: All applications must demonstrate clear public benefit and societal relevance
  • Diversity focus: Academy actively encourages applications from underrepresented groups
  • Long-term perspective: Multi-year awards with substantial funding require strong track records
  • Collaboration valued: Cross-disciplinary and partnership approaches favoured
  • Reapplication welcome: Unsuccessful applicants encouraged to reapply with improved proposals
  • Public engagement: Most programmes include or encourage public engagement components

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References