These challenges range from safeguarding newborns to developing sustainable biofuels. These innovators will participate in the Academy's Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) Global and Advance programmes.

These selected participants will advance innovations targeting the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both at local and global levels. The LIF programmes are designed to bolster their entrepreneurial capabilities to commercialise their technologies. This includes comprehensive training, customised mentoring, support from a global peer network, and access to the Academy’s exclusive network of Fellows, entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders, researchers, and policymakers. Funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology’s International Science Partnership Fund and managed by the Academy, these programmes aim to foster sustainable economic and social growth through local engineering solutions impacting communities worldwide.

This year marks a significant landmark for LIF, celebrating its 10th Anniversary. Since its inception in 2014, the programme has supported over 1,400 innovators from 19 countries, with 35% being female. This has resulted in over 220 new companies, the creation of 6,800 jobs, the registration of more than 1,000 patents and intellectual property rights, and the establishment of over 350 global partnerships. These achievements have attracted over £182 million in subsequent funding for these ventures. Upon completion, graduates join the LIF alumni network, gaining access to continued training and peer support. The programme is actively seeking new partners and sponsors to extend its reach to a broader array of the world's leading engineering and technology innovators and entrepreneurs.

Twenty advanced innovators from countries including Colombia, Egypt, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Mexico, Türkiye, and South Africa have been selected for the 2024 Advance programme's follow-on funding. Their engineering solutions are concentrated on health and inclusive economies, featuring innovations such as a portable CPR training device, early diagnostic software for blindness, and a CO2-reducing building paint.

An additional 62 innovators from Colombia, India, Jordan, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Türkiye, and South Africa have been chosen for the LIF Global programme. They will receive complimentary, customised training and support to expand their early-stage businesses. Their innovations encompass a variety of solutions, including solar panel cleaning systems, IoT health monitoring devices, energy storage solutions, and a land mine deactivation device.

The eight-month programmes, supported by delivery partners Oxentia Ltd (LIF Global) and St John’s Innovation Centre (Advance), will provide the innovators with intensive online and in-person training, mentoring, networking, peer support, and access to the Academy’s expertise and global network to help them turn their purpose-driven innovations into thriving startup and scaleup businesses. The programme will culminate in the UK in the summer 2024 with a demo day.

The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: “Leaders in Innovation Fellowships have enabled thousands of pioneers to develop ground-breaking ideas and they continue to back work on some of the biggest social and environmental challenges our planet faces – from saving the lives of newborn babies to protecting our environment with sustainable biofuels.

“The UK Government’s funding for these Fellowships has created thousands of highly skilled jobs and raised millions of pounds and we look forward to a new generation of ambitious ventures which can improve lives across the world and grow our economy.”

Ana Avaliani, Director, Enterprise at the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “It has been an incredible 10 years for our LIF programme, which has convened pioneering individuals in engineering from 19 countries to grow an exceptional community of innovators. As we begin 2024, engineering and technological innovation remains as crucial as ever in tackling global challenges. Solutions developed by this year’s cohort have the potential to deliver disruptive change and lasting impact for global health, economic inclusivity, and social mobility, while also addressing some of the most pressing local issues across the world.”