Author Archives: Helen

What happens when I submit my proposal on Gateway?

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Once you’ve added all the necessary information to Gateway, you’ll be able to submit it in to the approval workflow. This system means that the key people in the approval process (your Faculty accountant and Dean) are able to view all the information you’ve provided . In some cases, you might be required to provide more information so that they are able to fully understand the ins and outs of your project. To explain how this approval workflow operates, we’ve put together a flow chart that shows you who’s making decisions and what this means for your proposal.

You can view this flowchart by clicking here.

RIFS Training Workshops

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We’re excited to announce our upcoming workshop programme for Spring/Summer 2019, we hope you’ll be able to join us!

To find out about the sessions, including a summary of each one and information on how you can book, download the brochure.

For the Getting the Most from GRANTfinder session, we’re welcoming an external speaker from the makers of GRANTfinder, Idox. In order to make sure that the session is viable, we’ll be taking a look at the number of attendees on Monday 13th and making a decision as to whether we’ll reschedule the event to a time when more people are available. If you’re interested in that session then please book ASAP and we’ll be in touch to confirm plans.

Future Leaders Fellowship – further calls confirmed

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The UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme (FLF) aims to develop, retain, attract and sustain research and innovation talent in the UK. A substantial amount of funding has already been allocated, with the first projects funded by the scheme already underway.

With the current deadline a few days away, UKRI have confirmed that there will be three additional rounds of funding, October 2019, May 2020 and October 2021. This gives you plenty of time to get thinking about your application.

What makes this a good opportunity? Well we’ll tell you…

  • We have previously had successful applications under similar Research Council schemes and can provide examples to help you in writing your application
  • There’s a mandatory outline stage – this allows you to complete a shorter application upfront rather than jumping straight in to a massive application. It also means that they will only progress applications that look promising, giving you reassurance that you’re on the right track and more likely to be successful
  • It much longer-term than other similar funding, giving you a chance to really think about where your research/career is heading
  • UKRI have already published some feedback on the earlier rounds of funding that give some insight in to what particularly strong applications look like, making it easier to know if your proposal is a good fit

For more information on the funding, visit the UKRI website or speak to the RIFS team to find out more.

We’re launching something new!

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Are you working with a small business or organisation on an idea that could use a financial boost?

If so, you are invited to apply for a Business Innovation Grant from our new competitive fund.

University-led projects can apply for up to £5,000 to be spent on staff time, materials and other project expenses, with the ultimate aim of furthering collaboration and progressing promising ideas. £5,000 equates to approximately 8-14 days of staff time (depending on your seniority) and could offer you the ring-fenced time you need to make real progress.

Suggestions for activity include:

  • Developing a proof of concept
  • Completing initial research that will inform how the concept will develop
  • Market research
  • Progressing a concept so you’re ready to apply for larger funding, such as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership
  • Solidifying a working relationship so that it leads to further consultancy, research or student placements
  • Supporting REF and research outcomes – could this project lead to a new research output or provide evidence for an ongoing impact case study?

Successful projects will need to have their funding spent by the 31st July. This is an internal competitive application process and all applications will be scored against a clear matrix.  You can download the application form here. 

The application deadline for Business Innovation Grants is Tuesday 14th May.

For any questions about the Business Innovation Grants, please email Research and Innovation Funding Support.

In addition to the above, we are excited to announce a Strategic BIG Ideas Fund, with larger grants available to projects that involve wider strategic collaborations with multiple links across the business environment to widen our engagement as a University across Northamptonshire.  Applications to this fund are limited and if you are interested then please contact Charlotte Patrick for an initial discussion.

RIFS training and development sessions – opinions needed!

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You may have heard of, or even attended one of our development workshops. We are already planning to repeat previous events that have had good feedback but we’re aware that this isn’t comprehensive. We’d like to use your input to update our offerings, including creating new sessions. We’d also like to hear from individuals and small groups who have more specific development needs as we’d be more than happy to tailor a session to you.

Please click here to take a short survey.

Going global – UKRI announces new investment

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UKRI (UK Research and Innovation – bringing together the seven research councils, Innovate UK and Research England) have set out their vision of a global future for UK research.

A five-year investment totalling £200m will be made in 12 Global Research Hubs. This will work across 85 countries with governments, international agencies, partners and NGOs in developing countries across the globe, to develop creative and sustainable solutions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to the Hubs, UKRI has also announced the launch of the Fund for International Collaboration. This £79 million investment is designed to enhance the UK’s excellence in research and innovation through global engagement, forging new bilateral and multilateral research and innovation programmes with global partners. The projects involve collaborators from 17 lead countries and include:

  • A project bringing together international climate and health researchers to ensure we are globally prepared to manage the health risks posed by climate change.
  • A collaboration between UK and Indian scientists to tackle antimicrobial resistance in the environment, such as from pharmaceutical industrial sources.
  • A programme developed with the Smithsonian Institution in the USA to explore how digital technology can open up the collections of leading museums to a global audience.

 

For more on the Global Research Hubs, click here.

For more on the Fund for International Collaboration, click here.

We wish you a merry RIFS-mas!

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With the University about to close for the festive break we thought we would take the chance to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

The RIFS team will be available up until Friday 21st December and then back in the office on Wednesday 2nd January.

Is it your New Year’s resolution to be more active with research funding? If so, why not stop by to see us in January and we can help you make a plan for 2019.

How can I use tenders to progress my research?

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At start of each and every week we circulate an up to date list of tender opportunities, mostly from the public sector. These are a great chance to develop good working relationships with external partners and to engage with current issues facing the public sector, contribute to policy development and expand your research track record.

Unlike an open research call, there’ll be a much clearer description of the work that needs carrying out. Most often, the organisation commissioning the research will have a clear sense of the challenge/obstacle they have, but won’t have the internal expertise or capacity to tackle it themselves. They will be looking for an organisation that can:

  • Devise a methodology that meets their needs and offers them value for money
  • Provide access to the latest research in a format that’s easily understood and useful
  • Offer them the additional value of working with experts in their field

The amount of freedom you’ll have in constructing your project will vary, depending on how much the commissioner has been able to pin down the service that they’re looking for. However prescriptive they are, it’s always worth considering what extra value you can add and what would set your response apart from other organisations.

As commissioned research means fitting in to an external organisation’s timelines, there’s often short deadlines for the submission of responses – especially when compared to big research funds. RIFS can help you put together your application and ease the pressure cause by a short deadline.

If you’re interested in learning more about responding to tenders or want to receive our weekly tender mailing list then get in touch.

 

 

 

RIFS are now on Twitter

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To keep up to date with what’s going on around research and funding across the University, you can now follow us on Twitter – @RIFS_UoN

We’ll also be curating follow lists of our researchers to make it easier to find your colleagues.

Why not stop by and say hello?

Getting in touch

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As well as a new name we have a new email address to match!

We can now be found at RIFS@northampton.ac.uk.

This is the perfect place to send an email if you have a general enquiry or aren’t sure who to approach directly. One of the team will pick up your email and reply within one working day. We have a redirect set up from our previous account, so no emails will get lost in the changeover.