Funding available from the University
The Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team manage funding schemes and opportunities to help you create research impact.
ESRC Impact Acceleration Account
The University of Edinburgh is an ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (ESRC IAA) awardee for 2019-2023. The Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team manage this award. The main funding opportunities are:
ESRC Impact Acceleration Grant
The purpose of this grant is to accelerate impact of research. The maximum award is £20,000.
Projects are undertaken in active partnership with research users in the public, private, or civil society sectors.
We expect projects to have the potential for significant impact both within the partner organisations and beyond. We expect research user partner organisations to match the cash value of the grant with contributions in kind or cash.
Projects should normally not last more than one calendar year.
There are normally two calls per year for this grant.
The grant is open to academic staff across the University of Edinburgh with research as part of their contract.
ESRC Festival of Social Science 2021
Applications are now open for the Festival of Social Science, 1st - 30th November 2021.
FoSS is a celebration of social science and helps social scientists to engage with non-academic audiences. Everyone - from school children to politicians - can take part and hear about social science research in engaging events. Successful applicants will be awarded up to £1000 for their engaging activities.
The deadline for applications to the Knowledge Exchange & Impact Team is Wednesday 4th August 2021.
ESRC IAA Placement
The scheme provides an opportunity for social science researchers to work within an organisation where their research can be of use. We welcome applications throughout the year.
Business Boost Fund
The purpose of the Business Boost scheme is to provide small seed funding of up to £5000 for social science researchers to engage with private sector organisations. This includes private companies, social enterprises, co-operatives, trade & regulatory bodies. We welcome applications throughout the year. Please contact KE.office@ed.ac.uk in the first instance.
ESRC IAA Rapid Response
The Rapid Response scheme is for urgent opportunities for research impact that arise between deadlines. Please contact KE.office@ed.ac.uk in the first instance.
ESRC IAA directed investment
In addition to this project funding, we have a limited amount of funding available for cross-cutting initiatives where the aim is to test out a new method of engaging or in other ways innovate in knowledge exchange. We expect applications for this scheme to include leveraged funding from collaborators or from elsewhere within the University. Please contact KE.office@ed.ac.uk in the first instance for an informal discussion.
ESRC IAA funding opportunities (EASE login required)
Contact the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team if you wish to discuss any of our funding opportunities.
CAHSS Knowledge Exchange and Impact Grant
This grant allows academics to engage with policy, practice, industry or community audiences to increase the impact of research through mutual exchange.
Grants will be between £2,000 and £3,000, but in special circumstances up to £5,000 may be awarded.
There are usually two calls per year for this grant.
CAHSS Knowledge Exchange and Impact Grant opportunities (EASE login required)
EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account
There are interdisciplinary opportunities for CAHSS researchers via the University’s EPSRC IAA, to enable industry engagement and commercialisation activities from EPSRC funded research.
Grants managed by Schools
Check with your local School Research Office for any small grants offered by your School for Knowledge Exchange and Impact.
Find out more
We regularly promote ESRC IAA calls and deadlines.
We promote the call for the CAHSS Knowledge Exchange and Impact Grant in early Autumn and early Spring each year.
Contact the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Team if you wish to discuss any of these funding opportunities, or identify which scheme is best suited to your project idea.
External Knowledge Exchange and Impact funding
There are external funding opportunities to support knowledge exchange and impact. We provide advice on how to win this funding to researchers in CAHSS.
Find knowledge exchange and impact funding (EASE login required)
External funding opportunities for Knowledge Exchange and Impact