Open Call for CHI-Zone Fellowship Programme (UK)

The CHI-Zone Fellowship 2026 is a fully funded, cross-sector executive education programme that brings together leaders from health, social care, academia, technology, industry, start-ups, and the third sector. Hosted by the University of Liverpool’s Civic Health Innovation Labs and funded by Liverpool’s Health and Life Science Innovation Zone, the fellowship focuses on Person-Centred Innovation in Complex Long-Term Conditions. Applications close on 16 October 2026. The CHI-Zone Fellowship convenes a multi-sector cohort to support person-centred health and care innovation. The programme is designed to help leaders step back from day-to-day delivery, hear from diverse perspectives, and use learning to forge new partnerships and co-design solutions. Each year, the fellowship uses a dynamic theme to guide the cohort toward high-impact innovations. For 2026, the programme focus is Person-Centred Innovation in Complex Long-Term Conditions. The fellowship is described as fully funded. There is no monetary cost to individual fellows or their employer organisations for participation (as stated in the source). The programme brings together 20 fellows from varied backgrounds and includes:

The fellowship is delivered through:

Based on the source text, the fellowship is intended to convene participants across sectors to develop bold solutions to health and care challenges. The source indicates you should be able to contribute meaningfully from backgrounds such as: The source also specifies a mandatory geographic/employer association requirement: Other eligibility conditions (beyond the employer-location requirement) are not specified in the source. The CHI-Zone Fellowship 2026 programme covers learning topics aligned to person-centred innovation for complex long-term conditions, including: The source text does not explicitly list project funding or grant “eligible activities,” as the fellowship is described as an executive education and convening programme rather than a mini-grant scheme. This fellowship is positioned for professionals who want to strengthen innovation leadership across health and care, particularly for complex long-term conditions. By combining in-person workshops, expert-led learning, and discussion-led peer learning, the programme aims to help fellows deepen their commercial skills and build cross-sector partnerships. For applicants in Cheshire and Merseyside (via employer association), it is also presented as an opportunity to participate in Liverpool City Region’s innovation ecosystem and return as ambassadors for CHI-Zone. If you cannot locate the application form on the official page from the supplied text, use the official CHI-Zone Fellowship page to access the download and submission instructions: CHI-Zone Fellowship page. What is the CHI-Zone Fellowship? The CHI-Zone Fellowship is an executive education programme intended to facilitate collaboration among forward-thinking professionals from different sectors interested in designing, developing, or contributing to innovative solutions to pressing health and care challenges (as described in the source). Who funds the CHI-Zone Fellowship? The source states it is funded by Liverpool’s Health and Life Science Innovation Zone and hosted by the University of Liverpool’s Civic Health Innovation Labs. Is there a cost to participate? No. The source states there is no monetary cost to individual fellows or their employer organisations for participation; it is fully funded. Who can apply? The source indicates the programme seeks candidates from a wide range of backgrounds (academic, public sector, health and care professionals, SMEs and large corporates, professional services, and third sector). A mandatory requirement stated in the source is that applicants must be associated with employer organisations based in Cheshire and Merseyside. Where do the fellowship activities take place? The programme includes 6 in-person workshops (Wednesdays 2–5pm on the listed dates). The source does not specify the locations of these workshops in the provided text. When is the application deadline? Applications close on Friday 16 October 2026. The source text does not provide a deadline time or time zone. How many fellows will be selected? The source states the programme brings together 20 people. Review the official CHI-Zone Fellowship page for the application form download and any full eligibility and submission requirements not included in the supplied text. If you meet the employer association requirement for Cheshire and Merseyside, consider preparing your application to clearly reflect your relevance to person-centred innovation in complex long-term conditions and be ready for the interview windows listed on the programme page.