Following on from the STFCImpact Acceleration Account (IAA) funding previously awarded to the University of Edinburgh, further support has been provided to enable industry engagement and commercialisation activities fromSTFC funded research. The fund aims to increase, advance and accelerate the achievement of impact to the UK plc from STFC funded research.Projects must start as quickly as possible and must be completed by Mar 31st 2016.

Collaborative Projects and Knowledge Exchange Activities

  • Funding to develop STFC early stage research outputs through collaborative projects with industry (or other stakeholders)
  • Project must be clearly defined with the expected impacts articulated at the time of application
  • Visit to industry sector trade show or industry targeted conferences and events can be included

As with RC funded grants industry contributions (either cash or in kind) will be looked upon favorably, as this demonstrates commitment from partners.

Secondments, Placements and People Exchange

  • The emphasis of the scheme is to transfer and exchange knowledge allowing forexample: product or process improvement; creating new techniques; helping solve design issues; mapping and data analysis work.
  • Visit to industry sector trade show or industry targeted conferences and events.

Please note that exchanges could be in either direction with University researchers visiting a stakeholder or alternatively University staff hosting a visitor from industry, policy making bodies or other stakeholders. Exchanges can be for any duration of time from weeks to months.

Internships

  • The Knowledge Exchange Internship (KEI) scheme offers the opportunity for a PhD student to work with industry.
  • A KEI is a knowledge transfer collaboration in which the PhD student will transfer the knowledge, skills and experience gained during their PhD to a company who will benefit from their expertise.

The scheme is open to PhD students. A company must have been identified who would be willing to host the PhD and the activity during the Knowledge Exchange Internship should form part of a project to deliver a real benefit to the business, customers or society at large

Proposal Criteria

  • Projects should have a clear knowledge exchange or commercialisation focus with the impact for the eligible user organisation being clearly expressed.
  • Projects must be for work that has clear links to previous/current STFCfunding
  • Eligible user organisations should be UK-based businesses (or UK sites of international businesses), UK charities, and UK public sector organisations
  • All proposals should be discussed with your local Business Development/Technology Transfer contact prior to submission (see below for contact details)

The award will fund 100% of all direct costs incurred. The funds are managed by Edinburgh Research and Innovation and projects will be evaluated by a panel with scientific and commercial backgrounds.

The award will not support:

  • New basic research activity such as that covered by responsive mode grants from STFC
  • Patent filing or similar costs associated directly to registering intellectual property rights
  • Public Engagement activities

Award Conditions

Successful applicants will be required to:

  • report on progress with a summary report/case studyupon completion of the project
  • work with their Business Development/Technology TransferExecutive to ensure knowledge exchange and commercialisation opportunities aremaximized and IP protected/managed where appropriate

Applicants must ensure that applications are properly costed (with only direct costs allowed) and have received approval through their usual departmental systems.

Please submit your application to

For general advice and guidance on IAA funds please send an email to

All projects must be discussed and submitted with your School Business Development Executive/Manager

UoE location / BD staff / Email / Phone
School of Biological Sciences / Adam Irvine / / 01316507024
School of Chemistry / Stuart Duncan / / 0131 6513429
School of Engineering / John Jeffrey / / 0131 6514060
School of Informatics / Keith Edwards / / 0131 6509995
School of Mathematics / Keith Finlayson / / 0131 6505408
School of Physics & Astronomy / Keith Finlayson / / 0131 6505408
Medicine / Christine Helliwell / / 0131 2429250
Veterinary medicine / Helen Dundas
Alice Barrier /
/ 0131 6519183
0131 651 9184
CHSS / Anna Gibbons / / 0131 6514388
School of Geosciences / Stuart Simmons / / 0131 6508516
Business School / Douglas Graham / / 0131 6513508