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Innovation networks funding

If you want to engage with multiple external stakeholders to nurture partnerships and form an interdisciplinary community you could get funding to scope or establish an innovation network.

What are innovation networks?

Innovation networks can help you bring together multiple parties from industry, government and third-sector to: 

  • provide a forum for knowledge exchange on problem-oriented topics, innovative solutions and thought leadership in a pre-competitive or collaborative environment 
  • share and discuss industry and technological challenges and opportunities, to surface critical research topics, raise public awareness, create a market or help shape policy 
  • foster and develop collaboration between industry and UCL  
  • develop readiness and confidence to build joint research-based projects and solutions  

Innovation networks provide a broad range of knowledge exchange among diverse groups focused on a particular technological market segment or problem-oriented topic. 

Find out more about innovation networks.

Who can apply

All UCL staff can apply, including academic, research and professional services staff from any department.

What projects qualify

You can apply for funding for either an initial scoping exercise, or to establish a new network.

Whichever you apply for, 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 network and UCL  
  • how your network will contribute to society or the economy and the impact you'll be generating   
  • how your project builds on your work at UCL  
  • how the network will develop an appropriate governance structure 
  • a clear strategic plan for on-going development of the network and long-term sustainability, beyond the end of the funded period 

Networks may include a range of activities, such as:   

  • running networking events 
  • designing and delivering workshops, roundtables, panels or working groups
  • creating videos, podcasts or case studies
  • developing a database of members
  • producing academic papers or policy white papers
  • developing a framework for training activities
  • informing public policy 

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

Scoping an innovation network 

The result of your scoping activity should be a strategic plan to build, establish and sustain your innovation network.

Scoping your network in advance allows you to clearly identify and define:

  • the problem your network is intending to solve
  • network purpose, aims and objectives
  • partners who will be active in running the network
  • other target members
  • governance structure
  • plans for network operations
  • metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to evaluate network success 
  • activities the network will perform 
  • ongoing funding plans 

Activities may include:

  • polling the market to identify key issues for the network to address
  • hosting workshops with key stakeholders
  • testing engagement from potential members
  • forming an advisory board
  • producing reports and the strategic plan

Tools you may want to consider include surveys, workshops and individual interviews.  

Establishing an innovation network 

If your network has already been scoped or you already have developed a plan for your network, you can apply for funds to set up and run your innovation network.

Funds are typically used to cover costs of a network coordinator and PI (Principal Investigator) engagement in the network, as well as delivering planned activities of the network.

Funding details 

Amount

You can apply for up to:

  • £7,000 for scoping a network 
  • £30,000 for establishing a network

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

For EPSRC 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. 

Please note, our ESRC IAA funding will not be open for this funding round .

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 Innovation Networks team (inetworks@ucl.ac.uk) early for advice on your application’s eligibility, whatever stage of development your project is at.

  1. Read our innovation networks 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 the Knowledge Exchange team to assess its eligibility and make sure it matches the funding criteria. 
  2. If it does, at least three 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. For applications over £20,000, the UCL Innovation & Enterprise Funding Committee will consider the application and make a recommendation to the Executive Director, UCL Innovation & Enterprise on whether to award or decline. They’ll make the final decision. 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

  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) 2022-26
  • Research England, Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF)