Knowledge Exchange Opportunities scheme (ESRC)

The scheme provides the opportunity to apply for funding for knowledge exchange activities at any stage of the research lifecycle, and is aimed at maximising the impact of social science research outside academia.

The flexibility built into the scheme is intended to encourage applicants to think creatively about knowledge exchange, and applications are welcomed for either a single activity or a combination of activities; be it setting up a network to help inform the development of a research proposal, arranging an academic placement with a voluntary or business organisation, or developing tools such as podcasts and videos aimed at communicating the results of research to the general public, or developing existing research to make it more applicable to policy or practice.

Important changes to the Knowledge Exchange Opportunities scheme

Following comments from the community on the difficulty of securing cash contributions from user stakeholders, we have changed the scheme’s co-funding requirement so that partner contributions can now consist of any combination of cash or in-kind resources. The scheme has also been broadened to allow applications for new applied research, provided this is user-led or in collaboration with a user partner. Further details regarding these changes are outlined in the guidance documents below.

The next call will open on 20 August 2012 and close at 16.00 on 2 October 2012.

Call documents, including the scheme guidance are provided below. Updated guidance for the August 2012 call will be uploaded soon (please note that there will be no major changes to the August 2012 guidance):

 

The ESRC aim to inform applicants of a decision within 26 weeks of the closing date for the call.

knowledgeexchange@esrc.ac.uk.