Future Technology Research and Innovation visa scheme - register business interest

Overview

The Future Technology Research and Innovation (FTRI) Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) scheme enables UK businesses to sponsor international researchers and research interns to carry out temporary research or training placements in the UK.

To be eligible to sponsor researchers through this scheme the business must be undertaking research and/or innovation in one of the critical technologies specified in the UK’s Science & Technology Framework. These critical technologies are:

• advanced connectivity technologies (formerly called future telecommunications)
• artificial intelligence
• engineering biology
• quantum technologies
• semiconductors

This scheme supports the development of the critical technologies in the UK’s Science & Technology Framework.

The business must also be currently in receipt, or previously have been in receipt, of funding from one of the following categories within the last five years:

• funding from any constituent part of UKRI (i.e. Research Councils, Research England, and Innovate UK); or
• a minimum total of £40k funding from the UK government (inclusive of R&D funding from all government departments, agencies and non-Departmental Public Bodies, including partnership programmes); or
• a minimum total of £40k funding to form a spin-out from a UK university or public body backed programme; or
• a minimum total of 40k funding from a UK-based innovation centre, accelerator, early-stage funder, scale-up programme, or venture capital fund, including charitable and philanthropic funders; or
• a minimum total of £40k from the European Union's Horizon Europe Framework Programme.

Where a minimum total of £40k is stated, this value can be achieved by multiple grants within the same category. 

The requirement to be in receipt of funding within the last five years is inclusive of a grant end date within the last five years.

Register business interest

This form is for UK businesses to register an interest in the Future Technology Research and Innovation Government Authorised Exchange visa scheme. It must be completed if your organisation wishes to obtain a sponsorship licence for the scheme.

You will be asked a series of yes/no questions to determine business eligibility and then asked to provide information on your organisation's plans for sponsorship.

UKRI is able to sponsor eligible organisations. We are not involved with the visa applications of individuals. Individuals interested in being sponsored under this scheme should contact relevant businesses to encourage them to obtain a sponsorship licence for the scheme.

Next steps

Once you have completed this form UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will be in touch to discuss how your organisation plans to use the scheme in more detail. If your organisation is eligible, we will guide you through the steps to obtain a sponsorship licence.

There is no obligation to continue to seek a sponsorship licence after completing this form.

Please note that registration of business interest does not constitute making an application to UKRI for endorsement under the scheme.

This scheme is open-ended.