Harmonised Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)
Access funds to collaborate across disciplines and create impact from your research.
Funding is available for impact or translational projects of £20k to £60k, for up to 12 months, that include at least two researchers representing separate council remits (BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC/Wellcome Trust).
Projects should address a clearly identified unmet societal need, challenge or opportunity by combining research from the listed council remits. Applicants must justify why it is necessary to collaborate across research council remits and demonstrate that the proposal brings together the capabilities, expertise, and resources necessary to meet project aims.
As examples, the four following projects were awarded in the first ever Harmonised IAA Call:
- Dahlia Doughty-Shenton/Julien Michel
A collaboration bringing together medicinal chemistry and cell biology expertise to develop, optimise and profile a series of novel immuno-oncology compounds.
- Nick Gilbert/Graeme Cowan
A collaboration bringing together synthetic biology and protein structure expertise and capabilities to develop therapeutic antibodies to treat viral induced syndromes.
- Alan Murray/Jamie Marland
A collaboration bringing together engineering, chemistry and clinical expertise to develop power delivery and communication systems for implantable sensors of disease and internal wound healing.
- Srinjoy Mitra/Jon Stone
A collaboration between engineers and clinical researchers to develop and evaluate a device to objectively quantify motor signs as a diagnostic marker in functional neurological disorder (FND).
If looking for an ESRC remit collaborator the SHAPE in innovation portal signposts social science and humanities expertise in innovation at the University.
Applicants can still apply for individual BBSRC IAA, ESRC IAA, EPSRC IAA, MRC IAA and Wellcome Trust iTPA funding, and existing recipients can still apply for this additional funding for a different collaborative project.
What is the application timeline?
- Expression of Interest deadline Now Closed
- Deadline for applications is Now Closed
- Review Panel meeting Now Closed
- Application outcomes expected within four weeks of panel meeting.
Interested but want to know more?
Get an overview of the application process, changes since the first call, which disciplines are eligible, how interdisciplinarity should be interpreted, and which projects were successful in the first round.
How do I apply?
Submit your Expression of Interest by 22 September 2023. The Expression of Interest is mandatory but will not be used to screen applications. Full criteria, guidelines, and application form are available on the Harmonised IAA webpage. Please send your completed Word application form to Harmonised.IAA@ei.ed.ac.uk.
Early Career Researchers (PDRA level and above) are eligible to apply. The University has a long-standing commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to promoting a positive culture, which celebrates difference, challenges prejudice and ensures fairness. In line with this commitment, the Harmonised IAA call accepts applications from research-active staff at all career stages from diverse disciplines and encourages applications from under-represented groups.
Contact for help with your application: harmonised.iaa@ei.ed.ac.uk
