MRC People Exchange Programme
This fellowship programme is now closed for applications and is only available for reference purposes.
Building effective industry-academic partnerships
The MRC People Exchange Programme aims to stimulate collaborative research across industry and academia, develop skills and transfer knowledge. It is one of several new schemes designed with MRC’s industry partners to deliver identifiable translational research outcomes and build long term industry-academic partnerships.
The guidelines for the scheme are currently under review – updates and further information will be provided on this webpage at a later date.
- MRC Research leader fellowship scheme
- Objectives
- Scope
- Funding available
- Criteria for assessment
- How to apply
- Related opportunities
- Contact
MRC Research leader fellowship scheme
Under the MRC People Exchange Programme the MRC has launched the MRC Research Leader Fellowship scheme that enables experienced research active scientists to exchange knowledge and forge successful partnerships between industry and academia.
Objectives
MRC Research leader fellows will be at the forefront of their discipline, acting as champions for successful and productive collaborative industry-academic research.
The fellowships will stimulate the exchange of knowledge, “hard” skills and creativity between industry and academia to promote understanding and further enhance the quality and attractiveness of the UK’s biomedical and health research environment.
Scope
Building on the success of the MRC Skills Gap Awards, the MRC research leader fellowship scheme provides longer-term, flexible support for biomedical research leaders to exchange knowledge and skills between industry and academia. As such the scheme is open to both industrial and academic research scientists.
There are no restrictions on the duration of the project, nor is there a need for the individual to relocate, as long as the collaborative, pre-competitive research relationship between the industry and academic partner organisations is successfully forged. The project need not be a fully-fledged research project; it could be a preparative pilot study, a feasibility study, a technical exchange or a study of best practice or methodologies. The proposed activity must offer significant added value for the fellow, including the acquisition of new knowledge and skills (as opposed to exchange of samples/reagents). Strategic relevance and added value for each partner organisation must also be demonstrated.
Applications must demonstrate a relevance to MRC’s health mission.
Funding available
The scheme provides personal awards of up to £75,000 which can be used flexibly for expenses such as project costs, staff back-filling etc.
Please note that MRC research leader fellowships can be held by both industrial and academic research scientists. However, for administrative purposes, all awards will be made in the form of a research grant to the academic partner. It is the responsibility of both partners to agree terms and conditions for management of the exchange and payment from the academic partner to the industry partner to reimburse costs where appropriate.
Criteria for assessment
Applications will be reviewed by the MRC Industrial Collaborative Training and Careers panel, chaired by Professor Ian Kimber, University of Manchester. The panel will be made up of experts drawn from both academia and industry.
Criteria for assessment will include:
- Relevance and strategic fit to the remit of the MRC and aims of the research leader fellowship scheme.
- A clear focus on specific and achievable outcomes, leading towards a shared research goal.
- A convincing vision of what success of fellowship will look like and how success will be measured.
- The benefits to the individual fellow, including career development opportunities.
- The benefits and strategic relevance to each of the collaborating organisations.
- The added-value of the collaboration, such as the two-way exchange of knowledge and skills between industry and academia.
- Demonstration of clear commitment from both industry and academic partners supporting the formation of a strong and successful industry–academia partnership.
- Value for money based on a strong rationale for the proposed use of resources and the benefit of the fellowship.
How to apply
MRC is currently reviewing the guidance for completion of MRC People Exchange Programme, Research Leader Fellowship proposals. Updates and further information will be provided on this webpage at a later date.
Related opportunities
MRC research leader fellowships are part of a suite of schemes developed by the MRC to stimulate collaborative research across academia and industry and deliver the skills and capabilities needed by the healthcare industry in the UK.
This PhD studentship scheme aims to provide a challenging training experience through collaboration between academic and industry partners.
MRC Industry Collaboration Agreement (MICA)
Providing flexible support for academic-industry biomedical research collaborations.
Contact
For further information please refer to our contacts page.