What we fund
To be eligible for IAA funding you must:
- Have a current or recently-completed EPSRC research grant
- Have a public or privae sector partner who is prepared to contribute 50% of the costs (in cash or in kind). This reduces to 30-40% if the partner is an SME
- Have a clear plan to apply for additional funding (eg TSB) to take the research further after the end of IAA funding
The maximum amount for IAA funding is £20k. However, if milestones and deliverables are met in the agreed project timescale, further funding from the IAA may be available.
Details of the type of activities funded through the IAA are described below:
1. Integrating Cultures: One of the most influential and sustaining knowledge exchange (KE) process is achieved through people being given focused tasks as intermediaries between different organisations. The IAA will enable stakeholders to access the knowledge and expertise of Surrey researchers through staff placements and joint appointments. For example, researchers and industry professionals would be provided with support for placements of 3-12 month. The placements are intended to deliver flows of people into industry from the University and vice-versa.
2. Pathfinder Funding and Golden Tickets: Researchers will be able to bid for pathfinder funding to pursue opportunities arising from activities they have organised. For example, if a particular piece of research appeared to offer a major societal or economic value to the UK, the researcher could bid for a golden ticket to:
- Fund short-term consultancy work by the researcher involved
- Develop CPD training materials to exploit the research and KE activities
- Support access to facilities for validation, characterisation and testing
- Commission expert advice from sector specialists
- Complete a market assessment to determine likely potential, competition and opportunities
- Develop contacts with potential licensees or other interested partoes to ensure an understanding of needs and requirements
- Fund the first stage of exploitation if the work is particularly risky and the success of the entire project depends upon it, but be prepared to turn off funding if it looks unlikely to succeed
3. Proof of Concept: Surrey's KTA was particularly successful in this area, this allowed small scale projects to be developed in collaboration with industry. Like the Pathfinder and Golden Tickets, the funding is packaged to enable a fast, flexible response to ensure that the best projects get funding while those which do not progress have the funding turned off.
