London launches first-in-kind Frontier Innovation Fellowship to grow UK’s next tech giant with FCAT

London & Partners, the growth agency for London, and the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology® (FCAT®) have today announced the launch of the Frontier Innovation Fellowship, a ground-breaking accelerator set to grow the next frontier tech giant. Applications will launch this June during London Tech Week (9-13 June).  

The initiative aims to recruit startups from across the UK that are using AI, quantum computing, robotics, and other frontier technologies to solve the biggest global challenges. This follows the Mayor of London’s commitment to transform the city into an innovation maker - as outlined in the London Growth Plan - accelerating ambitious talent. 

As the first accelerator designed with this specific purpose, the Frontier Innovation Fellowship combines London & Partners' network and business growth strategies with FCAT's resources, including deep sector expertise and strategic support to help scale these ventures.

The Frontier Innovation Fellowship will recruit and equip up to ten early-stage founders with over £675k worth of resources, network, and expert guidance to take a prototype to market and secure funding to take their game-changing company to the next level.  

It will also include opportunities for founders to join the key tech and industry events in London and across Europe, including Grow Summit (the UK’s leading scaleup event), SLUSH, and opportunities to join L&P’s trade missions worldwide.  

As Europe’s foremost city for life sciences and artificial intelligence, London boasts globally-leading universities; a deep and diverse talent pool; access to global capital; a large market for innovation; and a culture of entrepreneurship – offering promising founders important competitive advantages and a commitment to building truly global companies.   

 Sir Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “London is the tech capital of Europe, and this ground-breaking partnership will mean we can support even more exciting companies to push the boundaries on frontier innovation. To turbocharge London’s growth as a global leader in fintech, AI and green technology, we need to invest in pioneering companies and ensure they have all the resources they need to thrive in the capital. This funding will allow us to do that, and in turn help these organisations develop the technology to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, as we continue working to build a fairer and better London for everyone.” 

Janet Coyle CBE, Managing Director, Grow London at London & Partners, said: “Frontier innovation is about transformational discoveries and inventions: making breakthroughs and turning them into commercial products and services. The Frontier Innovation Fellowship will connect founders with industry leaders, allowing them to directly access resources to propel their venture and drive change on a global stage.” 

Richard Murphy, Head of FCAT Europe, said: "The future doesn’t just appear - it is forged by those who can dream bigger and are bold enough to build what doesn’t yet exist. At FCAT, we’re empowering the visionaries shaping tomorrow’s breakthroughs and are committed to supporting their journey to market." 

To find out more about the Frontier Innovation Fellowship programme, please visit: https://www.grow.london/frontier-innovation-fellowship