Impact Acceleration Funding
Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)
The Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) supports critical early-stage translation of UK research to real impacts, transforming public services, creating new jobs, attracting private investment and forging new partnerships with business and charities.
Funding allows UK teams to unlock the value of their work, including early-stage commercialisation of new technologies and advancing changes to public policy and services such as NHS clinical practice.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), a government body responsible for delivering £8bn research and innovation funding each year, is investing £118 million in the latest round of IAAs to translate research across 64 universities and research organisations.
Aims of the University's IAA:
- To increase the breadth and depth of collaborations with external organisations facilitating the adoption/uptake of new research.
- To improve the exchange of knowledge and skills in both directions between the University and external organisations.
- To support the development of academic awareness and understanding of impactful research through the provision of mentoring, networking, and training.
- To provide support for early-stage development planning and validation of new products or processes to facilitate their progression/navigation along the translational pipeline.
- To facilitate the early-stage commercialisation of technologies, products, processes, or services arising from research at the University.
UK Research and Innovation Impact Acceleration Account (UKRI IAA: BBSRC, EPSRC and MRC)
As part of the harmonised UKRI IAA the University has secured funding of £4m from the following research councils for the period April 2022 - March 2025:
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC IAA: £300k)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC IAA: £2,460k)
- Medical Research Council (MRC IAA: £1,242k)
Funding for projects is available through an open competition, for details please see the call schedule.
Arts and Humanities / Natural Environment Impact Acceleration Account
The University has approved funding for both an Arts & Humanities IAA and a Natural Environment IAA, to support researchers working within AHRC and NERC remits. The University’s initial investment will be £200k (split between the Arts and Humanities and Natural Envonment IAAs) to be spent in the period 1st August 2024 to 31st July 2026. This is an initial investment, with increases to both the budget and time period expected to be confirmed periodically.
Funding for projects is available through an open competition, for details please see the call schedule.
For applicants wishing to apply for Arts and Humanities IAA funding please refer to the guidance provided on the LAHRI Hub.
Science and Technology Facilities Council Knowledge Exchange Institutional Award (STFC KEIA)
The University has secured KEIA funding of £75k from STFC for the period April 2023 – March 2024.
Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis and we are currently accepting applications.
STFC expects that the KEIA will be used to support impact emerging from a body of research undertaken over a significant time period.
Multiple funders may have been involved in this body of research but the applicant must be able to demonstrate a connection between KEIA expenditure and funding previously awarded by STFC.
Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account (ESRC IAA)
For details of the University's ESRC IAA funding and opportunities please see the LSSI website.