Building Partnerships Programme

Building Partnerships for Knowledge Exchange

   A new fund to support academic relationships with external organisations.

Introduction

Building on the success of the Knowledge Transfer Innovation Fund (KTIF), the Research & Enterprise Office is launching a new programme to support academics develop sustainable and productive relationships with external organisations. The fund will help to extend the reach and significance of the impact of academic research, and contribute to income generation through contract research, consultancy, professional development, facilities and technology transfer.

Why

The University’s Strategic Plan recognises that through knowledge exchange we will help to ensure the University’s financial sustainability and demonstrate our social, economic and cultural impact on the wider world.

What

Building Partnerships will enable you, as an academic, to develop your business engagement experience with organisations in the public, private or not-for-profit sectors. Engagement can include new contacts, or, can expand the range of interactions you already have with larger organisations. 

Benefits

·         Enhancing academic KE skills

·         Understanding how current research is applied in practice

·         Fostering networking and collaboration

·         Exploring potential for future collaborative projects and growing research income

·         Generating opportunities for new/enhanced KE activities

·         Delivering impact and acquiring evidence of impact

·         Increase KE income from contract research, consultancy, KTPs, CPD/training etc

How it works

Grants up to a maximum value of £8,000 will be awarded to enable academics to spend time with a partner, for instance to follow up a contact from a conference or networking event that you haven’t yet pursued, or engage with an organisation which you have always wanted to work with but have never had the opportunity.  The current call is for activities which will be completed by 31 July 2013.

 What it funds

·         Buy out of teaching  time to enable you to spend time with the partner organisation or to host visits at the University

·         Expenses such as travel and accommodation

·         Organisation and delivery of events (brainstorming, ‘sandpits’, networking etc)

·         Attendance at non-academic conferences or KE-related training courses

The funding may not be used to provide subsidised consultancy for the external organisation.

How to apply

Activities need to be completed by 31 July 2013.

A clear statement of commitment from the external organisation is required as evidence that the interaction is viewed as mutually beneficial. External partners will not be expected to contribute financially although by participating in the programme they will be providing valuable in-kind support.

Academics should email the REO at partners@essex.ac.uk to register their interest in the programme. The academic will then be contacted by a Research and Enterprise Manager who will assist in preparing an application. Applicants should also seek the support of the Head of Department.

All applications will be reviewed by the REO and funding decisions will be reported to the University’s Enterprise Board for final approval. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within four weeks.

Selection Criteria

When assessing your application, we will be looking for proposals which will help to improve your skills and experience, have clear outcomes and will build on-going relationships for mutually beneficial future collaboration.  Your application should address the specific selection criteria set out below:

Selection Criterion	Detail
Personal Development Objectives	Will the proposed activities help you achieve your personal development objectives for knowledge exchange and external income generation?
Benefits for the University	Will your time with the partner bring wider benefits for the University by enhancing our research and ability to operate in a particular sector or deliver a specific service/product?
Building our Client Base	Will the activities help us to widen our network of external partners/clients? Build a new relationship?
Building our KE portfolio	Will the activities contribute to the delivery of additional income generating opportunities?
Deliverability	Is the project feasible? Is the partner likely to co-operate? Welcome the engagement?

Further Information

REO will help with your application and will provide support for grant holders.  For more information about the programme, please contact partners@essex.ac.uk