MANCHESTER UKRI IAA Relationship Development Scheme User Guide

: June 5, 2024
: manchester

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MANCHESTER UKRI IAA Relationship Development Scheme
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MANCHESTER UKRI IAA Relationship Development Scheme

UKRI IAA Relationship Development Scheme Guide for Applicants

About IAA Relationship Development

Fostering new relationships between academic researchers and external organization to create opportunities for collaboration and exchange of knowledge and skills.
Academic research can often remain unexploited because of a lack of engagement with external partners who can support the exploration of potential applications and exploitation pathways. This scheme aims to bridge the knowledge gap by supporting academic researchers to engage with external organizations and identify opportunities for longer-term, impactful, collaboration. The aims of the scheme are:

To support the exploration of exploitation opportunities for the University’s research portfolio to highlight areas for external collaboration
To enable academics to learn about end user research priorities and models of engagement
To highlight to external organizations the research expertise and facilities available to support the generation of impact

Funding for Relationship Development projects is available via the AHRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, and STFC IAAs. We encourage you to apply for co-funding where appropriate for multidisciplinary projects.

About Your Project

Eligibility:

IAA projects are no longer required to be directly related to previous funded research, but must fall within the remit of the relevant Research Council(s):
- AHRC
- BBSRC
- EPSRC
- MRC
- STFC
We welcome applications from early career academics. Fellows may be eligible to apply as PI, please check with your Research Services Team.
Eligible partner organizations:
- UK-based businesses, or UK sites of international businesses
- UK charities
- UK public sector organizations such as the NHS
- Non-UK based businesses may be eligible where there is demonstrable evidence of the intention for inward investment during or beyond the lifetime of the project (e.g. establishing a UK site, job creation)

Contact the Knowledge Exchange Partnerships team if you have any queries about eligibility
Duration: IAA Relationship Development projects will typically be 6 months (part time) in duration.
Funding Criteria: The partner organization must contribute actively to the project through the provision of resources (including finance, facilities, equipment, consumables, staff time and technical expertise). You are expected to negotiate a deal which minimizes the support necessary from the IAA, and considers the value to the University and partner.
Dates: IAA awards to the University end on 31 March 2025 and no extensions will be permitted. All IAA project spend must be completed by this date. Project Costs after IAA deadline cannot be covered by the IAA and must be covered by the partner organization.

About Your Application

Completing the Application Form:
The Knowledge Exchange Partnerships team can provide active support for your submission. You are strongly advised to contact us for support before applying, and at least 1 month before the call.

Word limits are strictly applied. If you exceed a section word limit by more than 10%, your application will be rejected.
Applications are anonymized for assessment. Please include the names of academic project partners on the first page and signature page only. Use the terms “PI”, “Co-I” or “PDRA” throughout the rest of the application. Do not include hyperlinks to sites where you may be identified, such as grant awards and research profiles.
Remember to write your proposal for a non-specialist audience. For specific guidance on completing the different sections of the form, please refer to the IAA Handbook.
Section 3 of the application form concerns the partner organization. If you do not have a specific partner at this stage you may leave this section blank.

Costing:
Eligible Costs: Relationship Development projects are expected to be costed on a full Economic Costing (fEC) basis. IAA funding can be used to cover the following:

Directly incurred:
- PDRA Costs (if applicable and must be named)
- Equipment and Consumables (maximum £2k, with justification)
- Travel and Subsistence (maximum £5k, with justification)
- Other costs as required (subject to approval from KE Partnerships team)
Directly Allocated:
- Investigator time (maximum 20%)
- Technician time (maximum 30%)

All Estates, Technician IS and Indirect costs are ineligible, and must be allocated as Department Sustainability.

BlackDackel Costing Report:
Select appropriate research council as ‘funder’ with 100% fEC’d income template. This will ensure that inflation costs are included.
To produce a submission report, please use ‘submission reports’, ‘project proposal details’ and select ‘income template rules
Total Project Costs:
The costs directly associated with the project, in the eligible cost headings (above). These include all staff costs, estates, indirect costs, technician IS, travel and subsistence, and consumables
Company Contributions:
The direct (invoiceable) partner contributions to the total project
In-Kind Costs:
These may include staff time, access to equipment, provision of consumables Given the early nature of Relationship Development projects, a direct partner contribution is not mandatory. The maximum contribution from the IAA Relationship Development funds is £10K.

Assessment

Your application will be anonymized and assessed by the University’s IAA Knowledge Exchange Schemes Panel. The panel will consider:

The benefits to the University, staff involved and external partner
The likelihood that the project plans will deliver the expected outputs and impacts
The contribution the University is expected to make relative to the partner (gearing)
The likelihood of further collaboration resulting from the project

Submitting Your Application

Contact the Knowledge Exchange Partnerships Team at least one month prior to submitting your application.
All projects should be costed (fEC) and input onto PURE by your Department Research Services Hub, prior to completion of the IAA application.
Completed applications should be submitted via email to: [email protected]

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Manchester aims to have an inclusive environment for all staff and students, by identifying and removing barriers in our practices. As part of UKRI’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion initiative, completing the monitoring form will help us to achieve this, and also help us to meet our obligations under the Equality Act 2010. While it is voluntary to disclose this information, doing so will enable us to better understand the composition of our workforce/student body and examine our practices fully. The ED&I survey is anonymous and can be accessed on the following link: IAA Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Survey
Data we want to capture includes Gender, Age range, Ethnicity, Disability Status and Sexual orientation. Your answers will be treated in the strictest confidence, and all data disclosed will comply with the Data Protection Act 1998. All data is handled in accordance with University Policy and more details can be seen here.
To find out more about the work The University of Manchester is doing to meet the requirements of the Equality Act, please contact [email protected] or visit: https://www.staffnet.manchester.ac.uk/equality-and-diversity/data/

Application Checklist

Signed Application Form in PDF format
Signed letter of support from the collaborating partner, confirming the company contribution
Evidence of approval authorised by your Head of Department (e.g. a screenshot of the approval on PURE), to confirm that the proposal is supported by your Department and is in line with Department policy for the costing of collaborative research projects
Costing
We strongly encourage you to complete the research risk profiler tool
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Survey