The University of Cambridge was awarded a BBSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) to strengthen engagement with users and accelerate the translation of research outputs into impacts. This includes facilitating the impact agenda by forging new collaborations with industry, policy makers and third sector organisations or strengthening existing external non-academic collaborations.
We currently have two open calls: Bioscience Impact and Knowledge Exchange Fellowship (details below) and BBSRC IAA Pump-Priming 2024.
The Bioscience Impact and Knowledge Exchange Fellowship aims to support the exchange of people between academia and non-academic partners (industry, policy makers or the third sector) to create a two-way flow of knowledge and expertise, allowing both partners to benefit from new perspectives and insights. These projects can support research impact and skills development of both academic and non-academic partners.
- Call opens: 12 October 2023
- Call closes: 15 December 2023
- Awards: up to £15,000 per application
- Project start date: 31 January 2024 onwards
- Project duration: from few days to up to 6 months
- Due to funder budgetary restrictions, all spend must be completed by 31 July 2024
We strongly encourage contacting Dr Carmen Fernandez-Posada and Lauren Maggs (iaa@admin.cam.ac.uk) to discuss your idea in advance so we can provide tailored support and advice to maximise the strength of your application. Please also contact us if you are seeking a non- academic partner for your placement as we are aware of some opportunities, including a network of biotech companies interested in hosting.
Funding is open to researchers of all career stages (including Research Assistants, Early Career Researchers*, Principal Investigators etc.) employed by the collegiate University and with department affiliation for the duration of the project. ECRs and Research Assistants must have their Principal Investigator as co-applicant of the application. PhD students are NOT eligible. Placement proposals must be within BBSRC remit.
*For the purposes of this call an Early Career Researchers (ECR) is considered as someone who is within eight years of the award of the PhD.
Funds can be used for a wide range of placement types, including but not limited to:
- Academics spending time at a non-academic partner’s location (UK or international) for knowledge exchange (e.g. embedding research findings, understanding partner/user challenges or priorities), skills development or relationship building. This can include remote working if appropriate.
- Hosting of non-academic partners (industrial partners/policymakers/third sector etc.) by a research group at University of Cambridge.
- Short term (day releases) or longer term (up to 6 months, provided spending is completed by 31 July 2024)
Funds can be used to support activities which include:
- Exploring new projects or expanding on existing projects which aim to create impact outside academia.
- Skills exchange. For example:
- Learning an industry technique or practice for use in your own work or teaching an established technique for use in industry.
- Understanding relevant priority areas of policy makers to align your work with.
- Providing academic insight to a challenge in a non-academic institution.
- Attending or hosting innovation summits/multistakeholder events to understand the needs of a particular sector.
- Engaging with potential non-academic partners to explore opportunities to apply your research beyond academia.
ALL projects MUST Include a non-academic partner (industry, policy makers or the third sector) and bring benefits to all partners involved.
This funding cannot support placements in organisations in which the applicant is already a part of (e.g. company ownership, scientific board membership, etc.).
Application is via the online IAA Application System. Please provide:
- Outline details of the project in the IAA Application System
- A completed Biosciences IKEF application form, including HoD signature
- A copy of the draft project costing from X5
- A letter of support from your external partner
- Any additional documents, such as a Gantt chart showing the intended project timeline, as appropriate.
Please note the submission system only accepts PDF documents.
To maximise the strength of your application, please:
- Refer to Biosciences IKEF guidance for key information including eligible costs and assessment criteria.
- Refer to Summary of Impact Acceleration Account Terms and Conditions
- Contact Dr Carmen Fernandez-Posada and Lauren Maggs (iaa@admin.cam.ac.uk) for advice and support.
Working with Third Parties
Please refer to the Working with Third Parties section of our website.
For any queries or advice, please contact: Dr Carmen Fernandez-Posada and Lauren Maggs (iaa@admin.cam.ac.uk). Please also contact us if you have a potential project which does not fit the timescale or budget for this call, as there may be future funding opportunities.