University Enterprise Fellowships

Does your research or scholarship have the potential to be applied in a commercial context? Do you want to explore academic entrepreneurship (including social enterprise), or dedicate time to developing a relationship with one or more companies who are interested in the applications of your research?  

University Enterprise Fellowships (UEFs) offer academic staff and researchers the chance to explore how their work might create impact, whether through commercialisation, social enterprise, or collaboration with industry... We’re here to support you in taking that next step. 

We warmly welcome applications from pathway 1 and 3 colleagues across all faculties and career stages, and we especially encourage expressions of interest from global majority researchers. Your perspectives and ideas are vital to shaping inclusive and impactful innovation. 

Not sure what we mean by enterprise? You can explore examples of enterprise activity by visiting the Enterprise & Innovation SharePoint, where you'll find profiles of current and past Fellows across all faculties. It’s a great way to see the kinds of ideas others have pursued and you might even spot someone from your own faculty whose journey resonates with yours. 

University Enterprise Fellows – Art, Law and Social Science 

University Enterprise Fellows – Health and Life Science 

University Enterprise Fellows – Science and Engineering  

UEFs are designed to complement University Research and Teaching Fellowships, with a focus on the individual rather than the project. Fellows are given protected time and tailored support to explore enterprise opportunities in a way that suits their goals and context. 

What does a UEF offer? 

Fellowships typically last between 3 and 12 months and provide: 

  • Up to £10,000 to cover teaching or related duties 
  • Up to £5,000 for other costs (e.g. travel, market research, workshops) 

You’ll also have access to expert support from the University’s Research Commercialisation, Impact Development and Partnerships teams. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Manda Baynes. 

What can a UEF support? 

Activities might include: 

  • Exploration of whether an invention or technology could be patented and/or licensed  
  • Market research of the commercial appeal of an invention, novel service or technology  
  • Identifying target companies for a new technology and initiating contact 
  • Attending conferences or exhibitions to identify market demand and user requirements 
  • Running networking events, exploratory meetings or workshops with potential users  
  • Market evaluations for exploring markets and potential partners/investors 
  • Formulation of a business plan for a proposed new enterprise or social enterprise 

Application Information 

Applications for the 2026–27 cohort are now open and will close on 15 January 2026.  

You can learn more and apply for a University Enterprise Fellowship by downloading our application form:  UEF Applications Form 2627 (Office document, 247kB). 

Please speak with your Head of School before applying to ensure appropriate support and time release. Your Head of School has to complete a section in the application form confirming that they support your application and have considered how they will backfill any necessary activities that you would normally carry out. 

Hear from previous Fellows 

Want to know what a UEF journey looks like? 
Visit the Enterprise and Innovation Blog to read inspiring stories from past Fellows. From sustainable food systems and immersive audience analytics, their experiences show how research can lead to real-world change. 

Costing support 

Please liaise with your Costing Specialist to support you with the Worktribe costing. This is a link to the Costing Specialist contacts in the finance pre-award team: Costing Specialist Contacts 

Please create a project in Worktribe for your application and submit it for approval at least five working days before the deadline. 

When creating the project in Worktribe, please follow the steps below: 

  • Login to Worktribe 
  • Go to the Projects menu at the top and then Create Project
  • Project Title: As appropriate
  • Project dates: As appropriate. If you select ‘other’ as the start date, you can set specific start and end dates, which is helpful if the duration is less than 1 year
  • Project Type: Higher Education Funding Bodies Specific – Higher Education Innovation Fund
  • Project Activity Type: Research – Internally Funded
  • Funder: University of Bristol (Internal Funding Calls)
  • Scheme: University Enterprise Fellowships 26/27
  • Name of call: University Enterprise Fellowships
  • Award ceiling: £15,000
  • Create project at the bottom
  • Add in the project costs to the Budget tab
  • Upload a PDF of your application to the Documents tab
  • Complete the short questionnaire in the Risks tab
  • Submit for approval