AHRC Impact Accelerator Account Funding

The University of Reading’s Impact Accelerator Account (IAA) funded by the AHRC, aims to expand the impact of its research in the Arts and Humanities, in relation to both local contexts and national and international imperatives.

An important element of Reading’s IAA is the Impact Project Fund. The objective of the fund is to invest in early stages of work in the impact pipeline, to facilitate understanding of the challenges groups are facing, and investigate how the University of Reading’s research can help to address those. It is designed to allow us to rapidly respond to emerging needs and new opportunities to develop impact. Successful applications to the Fund will enable researchers to enhance the impact of their research, to undertake impact and engagement activities, and develop partnerships with external stakeholders.

Applications to the Fund are invited from anyone working in the AHRC remit. Please see the AHRC Research Funding Guide, Section 7, for detail on which areas fall within the remit of the AHRC. Applications for a range of amounts up to the total of £6,000 will be accepted. Projects requiring larger amounts will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you require urgent impact funding support outside of the Impact Project Fund calls, please contact the Impact Development Officer, Domonique Davies (d.e.davies@reading.ac.uk) for information about the ad hoc funding pathway.

If you have an impact project idea and it does not fit under the remit of the AHRC, please contact your relevant Impact Development Manager for a discussion around how your work can be supported. Please also note the RECF (Research Collaboration and Impact Fund, formerly REKEC) that is available across all Research Themes.

AHRC IAA funds can be used to pay for research and support staff time, teaching buyout, travel, consumables, and other direct costs. Examples of eligible activity include:

• Networking activities (e.g., hosting extended meetings; bringing together non-academic beneficiaries/ external partners)
• Workshops
• Engagement events with non-academic partners (e.g., conferences; symposiums)
• Travel to partners to develop relationships
• Creation of resources (e.g., teaching resources for schools, training materials, creative outputs)

The activities should enable applicants to progress research outputs towards the next stages in the impact pipeline. Activities should be conducted with non-academic partners or actively engage with non-academic partners to ensure opportunities for impact are maximised. Please note that this fund cannot be used for:

• New research Impact activities costed as part of basic research proposals
• Duplication of other sources of funding Indirect or estates costs
• Any costs relating to IP (intellectual property)
• Equipment with a value of £10,000 or more
• Undergraduate or postgraduate activities or training; core PhD training or contribution to fees
• Contributions to KTPs

Timelines and How to Apply

Please note there will be two more rounds of Impact Project Fund. See below for details.

To apply to Round 5 of the Impact Project Fund, please complete the online application form.

To support your preparation, please find a PDF of the Impact Project Fund application form. Please note that this document is for preparation purposes and that hyperlinks are not active. Please also refer to the costing template which should be used to prepare applications.

The Impact Development Officer is running two information sessions about the IAA which will include guidance on eligibility, previously funded projects, and the application form. There will be time at the end for questions after each session. These sessions will be online via Microsoft Teams on the below dates:

• Monday 7th October 2024, 13:00 – 13:45
• Monday 14th October 2024, 13:00 – 13:45

If you would like to attend, please complete the information session booking form to receive an invite. If you would like a 121 meeting about your application, please book an appointment with Domonique Davies (Impact Development Officer). Alternatively, you can email Domonique (d.e.davies@reading.ac.uk) directly to arrange a meeting.