Impact Acceleration Accounts

We are committed to ensure our research makes a real difference to society. Impact Acceleration Account investment represents a core source of funding for our impact activities.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs) offer flexible funding to support activities which help to improve the use of research findings by beneficiaries and end users including businesses, charities, public sector, policy makers and other organisations.

Our objectives

Our objectives are to fund projects that have the greatest potential to achieve impact from innovative and imaginative approaches to partnership and knowledge exchange, including:

funding seed-corn and accelerator projects which take new ideas from research to use in business, society and public life
supporting policy changes that shape how organisations adapt and improve their services, processes and outcomes for users and beneficiaries
strengthening networks with potential users of research
enabling residences and exchanges which allow partners to join us and placements where our staff join external organisations on a temporary basis

Funding

Cardiff University has received over £12 million UKRI IAA funding since 2015. Our current set of harmonised UKRI IAAs encompass £6.2 million in funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Medical Research Council (MRC) and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

£12 million in funding

Including £6.2 million in current awards.

Over 450 impact projects

Supported since 2015, including over 500 partnerships with non-academic partners and communities.

Research Excellence Framework

We've supported the development of 40 REF 2021 case studies.