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Introduction 

• The Bhattacharyya Award celebrates outstanding collaboration between universities and industry. Each year, a prize of £25,000 is awarded to a partnership that demonstrates how academia and industry can work together to address complex challenges and deliver real-world impact.  

• Established in 2019 in tribute to Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya, the award recognises strategic partnerships between universities and industry that accelerate innovation and deliver societal benefit.  

• For 2026, the Royal Academy of Engineering is operating two separate award strands:  

• • Industry Strand – recognising long-standing collaborations between universities and industry partners with significant national or global impact.  

• • SME Strand – launched in 2026 to recognise impactful collaborations between universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).  

• 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ may submit:  

• • One application to the Industry Strand  

• • One application to the SME Strand 

Criteria 

Industry Strand 

• The collaboration is expected to have lasted at least five years, still be active at the point of submission, and have spanned across multiple projects, grants, and activities.  

• Submissions must address the following criteria:  

• • Clear evidence of sustained, strategic collaboration lasting at least five years and spanning multiple projects and activities.  

• • Why the collaboration is exceptional and deserving of national recognition.  

• • How the collaboration is original and distinctive.  

• • How the collaboration has specifically benefited the delivery of the institution’s goals.  

• • How the collaboration has benefited UK society and globally.  

SME Strand 

• The collaboration should demonstrate at least two years of sustained engagement.  

• SME partners must meet the UK Government SME definition:  

• • Fewer than 250 employees  

• • Annual turnover of £50 million or less, or balance sheet total of £43 million or less  

• • Independent business and not a subsidiary of a large parent company.  

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:  

• Sustained and strategic collaboration  

• Exceptional collaboration  

• Originality and distinctiveness  

• Benefit to the partners  

• Impact on UK society or the economy.  

Eligibility 

• The Bhattacharyya Award is open to all UK universities and colleges.  

• Submissions may be in any discipline and may include collaborations from the social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, medical sciences and biological sciences, as well as engineering and technology.  

• Cross-university collaborations are eligible, provided they involve genuine, substantive partnerships between institutions and include at least one industry partner.  

Internal Selection Process 

911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ may submit only one application per strand. Therefore, an internal selection process will be used.  Faculties are invited to submit:  

• A maximum of two nominations for the Industry Strand  

• A maximum of two nominations for the SME Strand  

Nominations will be reviewed by RAG or a subgroup of RAG chaired by the Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise). Separate recommendations will be made for the Industry Strand and SME Strand submissions. 

Internal Submission Requirements 

Faculty nominations should include: 

• Name and contact details of the lead collaborators from industry/SME and academia  

• Basic details about the collaboration, including:  

• • collaboration start date  

• • proposed 10-word title  

• • confirmation of the strand being applied for (Industry or SME)  
• Narrative submission (maximum 10 A4 pages)  

The narrative should clearly demonstrate, with evidence, how the collaboration meets the published criteria for the relevant strand. Submissions may include images and/or graphics. 

For SME Strand submissions, faculties should additionally confirm that the SME partner meets the eligibility definition set out in the guidance notes.  

Use of AI 

Applicants should note the Royal Academy of Engineering guidance regarding the use of generative AI in submissions. Submission authors remain fully responsible for all content submitted and any use of AI tools should be appropriately acknowledged. 

Internal Timetable 

• Internal submission deadline to the VPRE Office: Friday 5 June 2026  

• Outcome communicated to internal applicants: Tuesday 16 June 2026  

• Final institutional application refinement period: 16 June – 2 July 2026  

• Institutional submission deadline to VPRE Office for final sign-off: COB Thursday 2 July 2026  

• Royal Academy of Engineering deadline: 4pm, Tuesday 7 July 2026

Further Information 

Full guidance for both strands can be found on the Royal Academy of Engineering website: 

Background

• With the Into Change Award, the Danish Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs aims to acknowledge and pay tribute to European research groups that have conducted outstanding, ground-breaking research at the highest international level while also exemplifying the best practices in terms of collaboration and key scientific values.
• In 2026, a total award of DKK 8,000,000 will be presented to a research group composed of exceptional members from institution(s) across Europe, representing all scientific fields.
• The award consists of an honorary award of DKK 100,000 for each group member, as well as a research grant of approximately DKK 7.2–7.8 million (i.e. the remaining amount after the honorary awards have been deducted from the total award). The research grant may be used for a wide range of research activities within the recipients' respective fields.
• Nominations will be evaluated by the Board of Directors of Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF). Based on this evaluation, selected nominations will be assessed by an evaluation committee, which will recommend final candidates for appointment by the Danish Minister for Science, Higher Education and Digital Affairs.

Eligibility

• The Into Change Award is awarded to a group of researchers from institutions in Europe who have demonstrated outstanding, ground-breaking research with substantial or fundamental societal significance and/or impact, and who have demonstrated the values of curiosity, collaboration, responsibility, respect and openness in research at an exceptional level.
• The prize may be awarded to research groups within and across all fields of science and to both current/active and former research groups.
• Nominated research groups must comprise a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of eight (8) named members.
• All nominated members must be explicitly named in the nomination form. The majority of the group members must be affiliated with an institution in Europe. All nominated members must be actively engaged in research.
• Nominators must identify one group representative from among the members. This representative is required to hold a PhD degree or equivalent qualifications at the time of nomination. The remaining group members may – but are not required to – hold a PhD.

Assessment Criteria

• In the assessment of nominated research groups, specific criteria will be taken into consideration. The nominator must provide a justification for the nomination and explain in what ways the research group fulfils the criteria.
• Nominators are asked to address the ways in which the research group fulfils the criteria listed under all three overall assessment categories:
• The quality of the research group's exceptional research contribution to its field;
• The societal significance and/or impact of the research group's contribution; and
• The demonstration and promotion of key research values, including curiosity, collaboration, responsibility, respect and openness.

Nomination Process

• Please note that 911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ may submit only one nomination per Faculty. Therefore, an internal selection process will be used.
• Heads of Department should submit nominations (maximum one nomination per department) to Lara Breckon (l.breckon@imperial.ac.uk) before COB Friday 10 July 2026.
• Nominations will be reviewed by the Research Advisory Group (RAG), or a subset of RAG chaired by the Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise).
• Following review, the selected nomination(s) will be invited to prepare the final submission with support from the VPRE Office.
• The external deadline for submission to the Danish Ministry is 14 August 2026 at 12 noon (CET).

Nomination Materials

1. Description of the research group, its scientific contribution and the specific project, contribution or output for which it is being nominated (maximum 2,400 characters including spaces).
2. Description of the research group's exceptional and ground-breaking scientific contribution, including its impact on the field and its societal significance and/or impact (maximum 3,000 characters including spaces).
3. Statement describing how the group's work has demonstrated and promoted the values of curiosity, collaboration, responsibility, respect and openness in research (maximum 3,000 characters including spaces).
4. For each nominated member, a CV and selective list of their most significant publications (in English; maximum three A4 pages per person).
5. Letter(s) of support (in English) – up to five letters may be attached.

Please read the for full information on the Into Change Award 2026, including eligibility requirements, assessment criteria and submission materials.

About the Award

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is an independent global humanitarian award that recognizes, supports, and honours individuals and organisations of all backgrounds whose work advances peaceful coexistence, human progress, and the values of human fraternity worldwide.

The award includes a monetary prize of USD $1 million and is presented annually in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, in conjunction with the UN-recognised International Day of Human Fraternity on 4 February.

The award is open to any individual or organisation that demonstrates a commitment to promoting human fraternity, solidarity, fairness, peace, dialogue, and humanitarian values.

Nomination Materials

911½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ's President is an eligible nominator for this award. To enable review and completion of nominations before the external deadline, the following materials should be submitted directly to the President's Office (president@imperial.ac.uk) no later than Monday 21 September 2026:

• A draft Letter of Endorsement/Nomination (maximum 1,000 words) for signature by President Hugh Brady (please see guidance for obtaining Letters of Support)
• The nominee's current Curriculum Vitae (CV) or biography.
• Any supporting evidence or information that demonstrates the nominee's achievements, impact, and suitability for the award.

Please note that self-nominations are not permitted by the award organisers.

Evaluation Criteria

Nominations should demonstrate outstanding contributions to promoting the principles and values of human fraternity. In particular, the award assesses nominees against the following criteria:

• Contributions to the promotion of global fraternity, solidarity, fairness, and world peace.
• Positive impact on local communities, including acting as a role model and inspiring or mentoring others.
• Innovation in developing new approaches to fostering fraternity, cooperation, and collaboration.
• Recognition from international organisations, professional bodies, community groups, or other relevant stakeholders.

Nomination Process

1. Candidates or nominators submit the required nomination materials to the President's Office by Monday 21 September 2026.
2. The President's Office reviews the submission and coordinates preparation and signature of the nomination letter.
3. Following approval, the President's Office submits the nomination through the Zayed Award online portal.
4. The award organisers issue confirmation of receipt directly through the nomination system.

Further Information

Full details of the award, eligibility requirements, and nomination guidance are available from the official .

Internal Deadline: Monday 21^st September 2026