Royal Holloway has been awarded an Impact Acceleration Account by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC IAA) of £1.25 million over five years (2023-2028).
IAAs provide UK research organisations, that have a strong base of social sciences research, with funding to support development of research impacts. This funding allows them to work with partners from all sectors to apply social sciences knowledge to address pressing challenges in society.
Partners of IAA range from multinational corporations to community groups and collaborations can be formal partnerships or informal knowledge exchange.
Many IAAs provide opportunities for partners and collaborators to help build links with researchers and research organisations through projects and training.
Royal Holloway applied for this award to establish the university firmly as a proactive Civic University, catalysing and developing its local and regional relationships to serve the diverse communities in its dynamic and complex region. This is Royal Holloway’s first ESRC IAA.
The objectives are:
- To build place-based partnerships with organisations across public, private and third sectors to maximise the added value of Royal Holloway's social science research and innovation and to establish its role as knowledge broker in the region.
- To lift skills, capacity, and capability at all levels within the institution (from PhD students to senior researchers and professional services) in a manner that achieves lasting value for the university’s ability to translate outstanding social science research into positive outcomes for the economy and society.
- To empower the university to act rapidly and flexibly to support the development of unexpected impacts arising from ESRC funded and other social science research.
The IAA activities that the university plans will substantially enhance the importance of Royal Holloway as a knowledge broker and innovation hub in the region, able to pivot its social science expertise rapidly and flexibly to deliver positive change for the communities that it serves.
Professor Kathy Rastle, Academic Lead of the IAA and Chair of the IAA Steering Group, said: “We are thrilled to receive this award.
“It is recognition of the breadth of excellence across our social science research, and it’s an opportunity to super-charge the development of real-world impacts for the benefit of communities, nations and the world. We can’t wait to get started.”
Ken Badcock, Senior Vice-Principal (Academic Strategy & Research) at Royal Holloway, added: “This award is a fantastic result for the university and a reward for all the excellent social science research that happens here.
“The IAA funding will help push us further within our research for the wider community and across the world.”
