Aims/priorities: The Ingenious grants programme aims to:
- Support imaginative and creative public engagement, raising awareness of the diversity, nature and impact of engineering.
- Broaden perceptions of engineering, targeting public audiences currently underrepresented in engineering.
- Build capacity for engineering public engagement by offering engineers training and opportunities in public engagement.
Priority will be given to projects that reach diverse and underrepresented audiences including communities in the most deprived neighbourhoods in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and that engage with engineers and people of different genders, ages and ethnic backgrounds. All projects and project teams should be based in the UK.
Underrepresented or underserved audiences are those which are currently underrepresented in engineering. This includes, women and girls, Black Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and people experiencing economic and social disadvantage e.g. living in areas with high indices of multiple deprivation, people with a disability or long-term illness and pupils receiving the Pupil Premium or equivalent.
Who can apply? Proposals are welcome from anyone interested in engineering public engagement, including but not limited to
- Engineering organisations and institutions
- Universities
- Colleges
- Schools
- Youth charities
- Science and engineering communicators
- Public engagement specialists
- Joint applications from engineers and organisations specialising in communication, education, arts or policy (eg, think-tanks).
- Those working in the arts and cultural sectors who wish to collaborate with engineers.
Applicants must be employed and based in the UK. In addition, the engineers participating in an Ingenious project must be based in and studying or employed in the UK.
Sole traders may apply but should ensure they are able to sign up to the programme's grant terms and conditions before submitting an application.
Although individuals cannot submit an application for Ingenious, they can partner with an organisation that can act as the host organisation and are able to sign up to the award conditions.
Grant amount: Grants of between £3,000 and £30,000 are available.
Funds are normally paid in three instalments, at the beginning, middle and end of the project.
Application process: There is one funding round per year.
All relevant documents can be found on the Royal Academy of Engineering’s website.
All applications must be submitted via the online grant system.
Contact the Royal Academy of Engineering for further information.
Deadline: Applications are now open with a deadline of 24 September 2025 (16:00).
Contact information: Email: engagement@raeng.org.uk