In 2027, Convergent Research and the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) will launch the second UK FRO Founder Residency, a six-month programme for ambitious scientists, engineers, and technical leaders who want to turn a high-impact idea into a Focused Research Organization (FRO).
What is a FRO?
A Focused Research Organization is a dedicated, time-bound team built to solve a specific scientific or technological bottleneck. FROs sit somewhere between a research lab and a deep-tech startup: they bring together a focused team, a clear mission, and a concrete plan to create a valuable public good or shared capability.
They are designed for projects that do not fit well into traditional academic, commercial, or government pathways.
The 2027 opportunity
We are looking for founders and their teams with ideas aligned with one or more of ARIA’s Opportunity Spaces, including projects that could unlock transformative progress for science, technology, and society in the UK.
You and your team might be a strong fit if you:
Have a bold idea for solving a critical scientific or technological bottleneck
Want to build and lead a mission-driven organization around that idea
Bring deep scientific or technical expertise, or are building a team that does
Can turn an ambitious vision into a focused, actionable, multi-year plan
Want to create a public good, shared capability, or platform for further innovation
Individuals can apply, though we are especially interested in founding teams with complementary strengths in technical leadership, organizational building, and external engagement.
What the residency offers
Selected teams will spend six months developing their ideas into fundable, launch-ready FRO proposals, supported by experienced FRO builders and operators.
The programme will include:
Workshops on research strategy, roadmapping, team and organizational design, operations, partnerships, and communicating a vision
One-to-one mentorship and proposal support
Peer-to-peer lab meetings and a cohort of fellow founders
Roadmapping workshops with technical advisors and relevant ARIA Programme Directors
In-person retreats, writing time, pitch practice, and opportunities to connect with the wider UK R&D ecosystem
Feedback from Convergent, ARIA, and external technical reviewers
By the end of the residency, teams will have developed a technical plan, organizational and hiring plan, budget, and peer-reviewed FRO proposal, alongside a clear pitch for their vision.
Residents should expect to commit approximately 20 hours per week during the programme. Participants receive financial support for their time, and required travel is covered.
Building on the first UK residency
The 2027 programme builds on the inaugural Convergent Research UK FRO Founder Residency, which ran in 2025 and resulted in two ARIA-funded FROs: Meridial, ECHO Labs.
The 2027 residency will feature fewer workshops, with an increased emphasis on individualized guidance and in-person time.
Key dates
The open call is scheduled to launch on December 15, 2026, with applications due by February 19, 2027. The selection process will run through spring, and the residency will take place from June through November 2027.
We’ll share the full application materials, eligibility information, and guidance when the call launches.
In the meantime, we’ll be hosting workshops, meetups, and online events across the UK. Subscribe for updates and event invitations.
If you’re working on a problem that feels, too interdisciplinary, or too structurally distinct for the usual pathways, we’d love to hear from you.
The next breakthrough may not need a better grant, a bigger lab, or another startup. It may need a new type of organization built around the problem from the beginning.
We’re looking forward to meeting the people ready to build it.
Learn more about FROs and the 2027 UK open call.
