Making an impact: researchers developed optimum swimwear compression in cross-institutional collaboration with an industry partner using IAA funds.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is investing £118 million in the
latest round of government research and innovation funding to translate
research across 64 universities and research organisations.
The University of Edinburgh will receive a £4.5m share over the next three years, awarded to the EPSRC IAA, MRC CiC and the BBSRC IAA.
The largest portion, £2.4m, will be managed by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) programme team at Edinburgh Innovations. This dedicated team promotes engagement and impact and manages a funding programme for researchers collaborating with partners.
EPSRC IAA is a strategic grant awarded to the University of Edinburgh to accelerate and amplify the impact of the University’s research. The funds are invested in industry engagement, knowledge exchange and commercialisation in engineering and the physical sciences: chemistry, engineering, information and communications technologies, materials, mathematical sciences and physics.
Now in its tenth year, the EPSRC IAA at the University of Edinburgh has supported over 200 projects with over 125 unique industry partners.
The EPSRC has acknowledged the contribution of the University of Edinburgh EPSRC IAA programme in their e-booklet: Delivering impact from our research. It has also recognised IAA award holders in Scotland (Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, St Andrews, and Strathclyde) for organising a joint annual IAA Impact Festival, which contributes to a broader impact culture and helps to form relationships that build capacity for cross-institution impact collaborations.
UKRI Chief Executive Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser said:
Research and innovation has the potential to improve people’s lives and livelihoods, rejuvenating communities across the UK and tackling global challenges. It is imperative that we harness that potential.
The path between discovery and impact is not simple and so it is vital that we provide flexible support that allows talented people and teams, and world-class institutions to connect discovery to prosperity and public good.
EPSRC IAA Project Manager Hjalmar Eriksson said:
Following 10 years of successful partnership, we are looking forward to supporting new projects and industry collaborations. We have a full programme of support lined up with a team dedicated to bringing the bright ideas of University of Edinburgh researchers to reality.
Impact achieved at Edinburgh
Featured in the EPSRC e-booklet is optimum swimwear compression for British athletes, a great example of cross-institutional collaboration using IAA funds to achieve impact.
Also featured is the collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies UK, a great example of a strategic relationship developed through a secondment funded by EPSRC IAA.
To discuss support available please email EPSRCIAA@ei.ed.ac.uk
EPSRC IAA, MRC CiC and BBSRC IAA translational funding support
University of Edinburgh EPSRC IAA funding (EASE log in required)
University of Edinburgh EPSRC IAA case studies
Image: Gentrit Sylejmani/Unsplash
