Knowledge exchange and innovation funding

If you would like to explore opportunities to engage with people outside academia and develop collaborative projects, you could get knowledge exchange funding.

What is knowledge exchange?

Knowledge exchange (KE) is a process that connects you with communities beyond the university to exchange ideas, evidence and expertise. It emphasises a two-way exchange of learning and helps you use your knowledge to benefit society and the economy, bringing what you've learned back into the university.

Who can apply

UCL academic staff working in any subject discipline and at any stage in their careers can apply for funding. Early career researchers are particularly encouraged to apply.

Professional services staff can also apply for Knowledge Exchange funding from UCL’s Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) allocation.

What projects qualify

Your proposal should demonstrate:

• engagement with non-academic users or collaborators, such as businesses, public sector services, charities or the wider public
• how you'll bring their input or expertise back into the project and UCL
• how your project will contribute to society or the economy
• how your project builds on your work at UCL
• if applicable, how it maximises the impact of research aligned with AHRC, EPSRC, or STFC's portfolios (note ESRC opportunities will return in 2025)

Projects could include, among others: 

• strengthening or exploring the development of a partnership
• designing and delivering workshops or events where you’re working with non-academic collaborators
• informing public policy

Further details on eligibility requirements can be found in our knowledge exchange and innovation funding guide (Word).

Funding details 

Amount

You can apply for up to:

• £5,000 to explore the potential of an early-stage project idea with a partner organisation (stage 1)
• £20,000 for more developed projects (stage 2). For example, your project may be building on an existing collaboration or the success of a previous project
• £10,000 if applying for AHRC IAA Art Futures seed funding

Stage 1 funding is aimed at those who are exploring knowledge exchange for the first time, in particular early career researchers. Stage 1 applications will be assessed using simplified criteria.

If you’re unsure which stage your project is at, get in touch with the Knowledge Exchange team (knowledge.exchange@ucl.ac.uk) to discuss.

Start date

You can decide the most suitable start date for your project, but the earliest you can start is:

• 24 February 2025 for HEIF projects
• 3 March 2025 for IAA projects

This is to allow time for the processing of your award and to ensure funds are available for your project start.

Duration

For IAA projects, projects can be of any length, but funds must be spent fully by 31 March 2026. This is a hard deadline and project extensions beyond this date will not be possible. 

For HEIF projects, funding can cover up to 12 months of activity.

When to apply

Applications will open on 14 October and close at 23:59 on 8 November 2024.

We'll aim to notify you of your outcome by Thursday, 20 February.

Submissions received outside published call dates will not be considered.

How to apply

We'd encourage you to speak to the Knowledge Exchange team (knowledge.exchange@ucl.ac.uk) early for advice on your application’s eligibility, whatever stage of development your project is at. 

1. Read our knowledge exchange and innovation funding guide (Word) for advice on completing your application and details of the documents we’ll need to see.
2. Read our guide to using the web application form (Word), and what information you'll need to have to hand before starting.
3. Fill in the web application form on our online portal. (You'll need your UCL login. Only one person can access the form. You can save and return to the form at any time.)

You can use the application template (Word) to share information with co-investigators or other colleagues if this is helpful. But applications must be submitted via the web application form (emailed applications will not be accepted).

If you have any feedback on the web form, please send it to knowledge.exchange@ucl.ac.uk so we can improve the process.

After you apply

1. Your proposal will be assessed by a member of the team to assess its eligibility and make sure it matches the funding criteria.
2. If it does, two members of innovation-engaged UCL staff will review it. Your application will be assessed on its suitability for the scheme, feasibility, and potential for impact.
3. Applications up to £5,000 will be assessed using a simplified criteria. The Knowledge Exchange team will take the decision and make a recommendation. 
   For applications up to £20,000, the Knowledge Exchange team will consider the recommendations made by reviewers and make a recommendation to the Executive Director, UCL Innovation & Enterprise on whether to award or decline. They’ll make the final decision. The same criteria are applied in both cases. 

Funding sources

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2022-26
• Economics and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2023-28
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2022-26
• Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2022-26
• Research England, Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF)