Economic and Social Research Council Impact Acceleration Account

Our Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) enables our researchers to have a positive impact that improves outcomes for individuals, advances society and strengthens the economy across the UK and beyond.

We allocate funds to accelerate the impact of our research projects through partnerships with public, private and third-sector organisations, supporting secondments, events, and training. The success of our partnerships can be seen in the fact that half of our completed projects have led to further work with partners.

Since 2018, £1.2 million has improved the take-up of social science research by a range of end users including policymakers and external organisations, leading to outcomes, such as improved decision-making in emergency situations with the National Fire Chiefs Council and shaping electoral reform in the Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament.

We support the communication of our research to a broad and diverse range of communities through our annual Festival of Social Sciences as part of a large network of ESRC IAA partners celebrating the work of social sciences across the UK.

Aims

engage with, and support, the ESRC research community to share knowledge, good practices and technologies that arise from social sciences research
assist in ensuring that public, private, third sector and/or communities can engage with social science research, enabling impact to be achieved more readily
identify and support high-quality collaborations and partnerships
expand the capacity of social sciences academics, students and professional services staﬀ to make a difference in the world

Funding

As part of Cardiff University’s Harmonised Impact Acceleration Account (H-IAA), the Knowledge Exchange Placements and Secondment Scheme (KEPSs), Strategic Impact Funding (SIF) and Follow on Funding (FoF) schemes will run under the ESRC IAA. In addition, the ESRC IAA will fund one more scheme:

Commercialising Research out of Social Science funding (CRoSS)

Active: Autumn 2024 to Spring 2025

CRoSS will provide early-stage funding to assess, establish and accelerate the translational and commercial potential of new or existing research projects in the remit of ESRC research.