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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 here (pp. 67-74) for detail on which areas fall within the remit of the AHRC. Applications for a range of amounts up to the total of £6000 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.


If you have an impact project idea and it does not fit under the remit of the AHRC, please contact your 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 Research Themes.

 

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 digital resources (e.g., websites; teaching resources for schools)

 

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

 

How to apply

The deadline for the current round of Impact Project Fund has passed but in advance of future calls, please see a PDF format of the application form here.  Please note that this document is for preparation purposes and that hyperlinks are not active. Please see here for the costing template which should be used to prepare applications.  

 

If you would like to know more about the AHRC IAA, please book an appointment with Domonique Davies (Impact Development Officer) here. If these days/times do not suit your schedule, please email Domonique directly to arrange a meeting.