Nanotechnology Now

Our NanoNews Digest Sponsors
Heifer International



Home > Press > Ref signals deep impact as EPSRC announces £30 million for impact acceleration accounts (IAA)

Abstract:
The recently published results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) show that the impact of research funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has been both deep and long lasting.

Ref signals deep impact as EPSRC announces £30 million for impact acceleration accounts (IAA)

Swindon, UK | Posted on January 21st, 2015

Of the case studies covering engineering and physical sciences, 85 per cent of them involved EPSRC-supported researchers.

Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Greg Clark, said: "The UK boasts a global reputation for scientific excellence. As the recent REF results have shown, the research being funded by EPSRC is having a real and lasting impact. Enabling scientists to bridge the so-called ‘valley of death' that lies between the lab and the marketplace is crucial for our economy and an important part of our Science and Innovation Strategy. Extending the Impact Acceleration Accounts will further bridge this gap, and will enable scientists to contribute towards successful businesses, taking ideas through to market."

Professor Philip Nelson, EPSRC's Chief Executive said: "The REF results show that the research EPSRC supports is both excellent and has impact. Universities are using the Pathways to Impact process and Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs) to plan how their research is going to be communicated, translated and accelerated to users and moved further along the line."

Examples of EPSRC related REF case studies are:

Software tools based on artificial intelligence which are saving the NHS millions of pounds through more cost-efficient procurement
Mathematical modelling of extreme events which has enabled massive savings through the optimised design of coastal flood defences
New coatings for aircraft engines which are saving billions of pounds in reduced fuel costs as well as offering significant environmental benefits
EPSRC today announced a further £30 million which is to be allocated to universities to bring about impact through IAAs. This will build on the £60 million allocated in 2012 which gave awards ranging from £600,000 to £6 million to 31 universities across the UK.

Professor Nelson said: "The last tranche of Impact Acceleration Accounts has not just impacted the research landscape, but changed it by making it easier for scientists to develop their ideas and to collaborate with industry."

IAAs help speed up the contribution that scientists make towards new innovation, successful businesses and the economic returns that benefit UK PLC.

For example, a novel electronic voting system stemming from an IAA has been deployed by the Victoria State Electoral Board of Australia in late 2014.

Further examples of recent IAA outcomes include:

Advanced composites work with BMW
Projects across healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, automotive, aerospace, robotics, manufacturing and computing
A device for rapid screening method for biopsies has been demonstrated to pathologists
One IAA is supporting SMEs in London's Tech City - the growing technology hub based around Shoreditch.

The EPSRC Research Performance and Economic Impact Report 2013/14 is also published today.

This is an annual report and incorporates highlights from the year including:

the launch of ARCHER, a new national high performance computing service which has already helped researchers to understand advanced materials at the nano-scale and modelled how air flows around Formula 1 racing cars and aircraft in order to improve fuel efficiency

a five year partnership with Shell which will identify opportunities for joint funding and postgraduate training

and a new iPad-based early-warning system for hospital patient monitoring being used by Oxford University Hospitals NHS.

There are 33 IAA-recipient universities across the UK university community, they are:

University of Bath,

University of Birmingham

University of Bristol

Brunel University

University of Cambridge

University of Cardiff

Cranfield University

University of Durham

University of Edinburgh

University of Exeter

University of Glasgow

Heriot-Watt University

Imperial College London

King's College London

Lancaster University

University of Leeds

University of Liverpool

Loughborough University

The University of Manchester

Newcastle University

University of Nottingham

University of Oxford

Queen Mary University London

Queens University Belfast

University of Sheffield

University of Southampton

University of St Andrews

University of Strathclyde

University of Surrey

University of Swansea

UCL

University of Warwick

University of York

####

About Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and physical sciences. EPSRC invests around £800m a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone's health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK.

For more information, please click here

Contacts:
EPSRC Press Office
44 01793 444 404


Clare Waldron
0044 (0) 1793 444000

Copyright © AlphaGalileo

If you have a comment, please Contact us.

Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.

Bookmark:
Delicious Digg Newsvine Google Yahoo Reddit Magnoliacom Furl Facebook

Related News Press

News and information

Researchers develop artificial building blocks of life March 8th, 2024

How surface roughness influences the adhesion of soft materials: Research team discovers universal mechanism that leads to adhesion hysteresis in soft materials March 8th, 2024

Two-dimensional bimetallic selenium-containing metal-organic frameworks and their calcinated derivatives as electrocatalysts for overall water splitting March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

VC/Funding/Angel financing/Loans/Leases/Crowdfunding

Graphene Flagship start-up Bedimensional closes a second €10 million investment round February 10th, 2023

180 Degree Capital Corp. Reports +14.2% Growth in Q1 2021, $10.60 Net Asset Value Per Share as of March 31, 2021, and Developments From Q2 2021 May 11th, 2021

180 Degree Capital Corp. Issues Second Open Letter to the Board and Shareholders of Enzo Biochem, Inc. March 26th, 2021

180 Degree Capital Corp. Reports +6.7% Growth in Q4 2020, $9.28 Net Asset Value per Share as of December 31, 2020, and Developments from Q1 2021 Including Expected Investment in a Planned SPAC Sponsor February 22nd, 2021

Govt.-Legislation/Regulation/Funding/Policy

What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024

Researchers’ approach may protect quantum computers from attacks March 8th, 2024

The Access to Advanced Health Institute receives up to $12.7 million to develop novel nanoalum adjuvant formulation for better protection against tuberculosis and pandemic influenza March 8th, 2024

Optically trapped quantum droplets of light can bind together to form macroscopic complexes March 8th, 2024

Announcements

What heat can tell us about battery chemistry: using the Peltier effect to study lithium-ion cells March 8th, 2024

Curcumin nanoemulsion is tested for treatment of intestinal inflammation: A formulation developed by Brazilian researchers proved effective in tests involving mice March 8th, 2024

The Access to Advanced Health Institute receives up to $12.7 million to develop novel nanoalum adjuvant formulation for better protection against tuberculosis and pandemic influenza March 8th, 2024

Nanoscale CL thermometry with lanthanide-doped heavy-metal oxide in TEM March 8th, 2024

NanoNews-Digest
The latest news from around the world, FREE




  Premium Products
NanoNews-Custom
Only the news you want to read!
 Learn More
NanoStrategies
Full-service, expert consulting
 Learn More











ASP
Nanotechnology Now Featured Books




NNN

The Hunger Project