BU Research Blog

Demonstrating impact is becoming an increasingly normal part of academic life, with changes in the external environment underpinning the need to show how research is making a difference beyond academia. As well as forming a significant part of a university’s REF submission, impact pathways are often included as a routine part of funding applications.

In order to support impact development at Bournemouth University, an impact fund was established in spring 2019, overseen by the Research Impact Funding Panel. The first call for applications was launched in March 2019 for the remainder of the 2018/19 academic year. This call is now closed.

For 2019/20, the Research Impact Fund has been split into three strands:

1. To support the development of new research partnerships and networks, to lay the groundwork for future research projects (£17,500) – now closed.
2. To provide support for emerging impact from existing underpinning research (£17,500) – now closed.
3. For the development of impact case studies for REF2021 (£15,000) – open.

We are pleased to announce that the fund is now open for applications for strand 3.

Eligibility

 This strand is open only to those developing an impact case study for REF2021. It is expected that those who are applying for the fund will have previously submitted a draft case study for review through mock REF exercise. If you are yet to submit a draft case study, but believe you have a potential impact case study for REF2021, please speak to your Faculty Impact Officer in the first instance:

• FHSS: Amanda Lazar,
• FM: Matt Fancy,
• FMC: Brian McNulty,
• FST: Amanda Edwards.

 Application process

To apply, please read the application form and policy document. To apply, please read the application form and guidance. Applications must be submitted by your Impact Champion or UoA Lead to researchimpact@bournemouth.ac.uk by Friday 20 September.

 If you have any questions about your application please email either Rachel Bowen (for HSS or FM queries) or Genna del Rosa (for FMC or SciTech queries).

You can also seek advice from the following RDS colleagues when developing your application:

• Engagement Officer: Adam Morris,
• FHSS Impact Officer: Amanda Lazar,
• FM Impact Officer: Matt Fancy,
• FMC Impact Officer: Brian McNulty,
• FST Impact Officer: Amanda Edwards

BU’s Research Principles

Putting the Research Impact Fund into strategic context, under BU2025, the following funding panels operate to prioritise applications for funding and make recommendations to the Research Performance and Management Committee (RPMC).

There are eight funding panels:

1. HEIF Funding Panel
2. GCRF Funding Panel
3. Research Impact Funding Panel
4. Doctoral Studentship Funding Panel
5. ACORN Funding Panel
6. Research Fellowships Funding Panel
7. Charity Support Funding Panel
8. SIA Funding panel

Please see further announcements regarding each initiative.

These panels align with the BU2025 focus on research, including BU’s Research Principles.  Specifically, but not exclusively, regarding the Research Impact Funding Panel, please refer to:

• Principle 5 – which sets of the context for such funding panels,

• Principle 6 and Outcome 9 – which recognises the need for interdisciplinarity and the importance of social science and humanities (SSH).