The ESRC Impact Fund

This strand will fund initiatives to accelerate the impact of social science research at Queen's. There are three types of funding available:

• The Leading Impact Fund is a responsive-mode scheme to enable researchers to carry out impact initiatives based on their research. Awards of up to £15k are available, but projects will typically be in the region of £5-£10k. Success rate: 46%. See examples of impact initiatives funded
• The Rapid Impact Fund is a responsive-mode scheme for spontaneous impact activity. It will provide short-term, smaller amounts of funding, usually under £1k, for impact opportunities that arise as a result of research. Success rate: 86%. See examples of Rapid Impact funded
• Impact Vouchers for Social Science are aimed at external organisations that would like to work with the University to generate impact. The vouchers can be used by the external organisation to pay for researcher time/services up to £5k. Success rate: 33%. See examples of Impact Vouchers funded

Application Form for Leading Impact Fund

Application Form for Rapid Impact Fund

Application Form for Impact Vouchers

Placing People

This strand will enable flexible people placements between the University and external organisations. Placements will usually last a maximum of six months on a flexible, part-time basis. However, given the pandemic this can be extended if required. There are three types of placement available:

• Mid-Career/Senior Academic Secondments support University-based researchers to undertake work that will validate their research in non-academic contexts. Success rate: 100%. See examples of Secondments funded
• Early Career Researcher Secondments are based on the Knowledge Transfer Partnership model of the Associate, Mentor and external partner. Success rate: 83%. See examples of ECR Secondments funded
• Practitioner Appointments will allow staff from external organisations to spend time with researchers or teams of researchers within the University. Success rate: 100%. See examples of Practictioner Appointments funded

Application Form for Mid-Career/Senior Academic Secondments

Application Form for Early Career Researcher Secondments

Application Form for Practitioner Appointments

Partnerships

By collaborating with community organisations, NGOs, governments, policymakers, businesses, international bodies and other external organisations, our researchers are able to extend the impact of their research. There are two types of partnerships available:

• International Partnerships will support researchers to collaborate and share their research with internationally-located impact partners. This engagement will lead to the creation of long-term relationships with potential impact on international policymaking and activities. Up to £20k is available. Success rate: 62%. See examples of international partnerships funded
• Developing New Partnerships is aimed at activities that will help academics build partnerships with organisations regionally or nationally with which they have not previously worked or with which they only have a tentative relationship. Up to £3k is available.  Success rate: 71%. See examples of new partnerships funded

Application Form for International Partnerships

Application Form for Developing New Partnerships

Further Information

For further information, contact esrciaa@qub.ac.uk. 

We are particularly keen to encourage researchers applying to the scheme to develop their proposals in collaboration with voluntary and community organisations working on relevant issues, in order to maximise the societal impact or application of their research. Queen’s is working closely with NICVA, the NI umbrella and support body for NI voluntary and community organisations, to encourage such collaborations. Advice and signposting to relevant organisations to collaborate with can be obtained by contacting NICVA at geoff.nuttall@nicva.org