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Knowledge Exchange Call

NERC is pleased to invite applications to the new Knowledge Exchange Call with a closing date of Wednesday 26 May, 4pm.
(note: the date is later than previously announced to provide more time for applicants to prepare for the closing date)

Interviews for the Knowledge Exchange Fellowship element of the call will be held on 7 and 8 July.

Following a review, there have been some changes to the KE Call:

  • An increased focus on end-user involvement, with at least one project partner required
  • A requirement that each end-user must provide a Letter of Support
  • Being run in conjunction with the Knowledge Exchange (KE) Fellowship scheme to enable applicants to apply for each scheme independently or to submit a joint application to both if they so wish.
  • A maximum of £125k (£100k at 80% FEC) per application

Pathways to Impact / Impact Summary / Academic Beneficiaries

There is an error in the Je-S form that asks applicants to attach a 'Pathway to Impact', and to fill in 'Impact Summary' and 'Academic Beneficiaries' sections, which are not requirements for Knowledge Exchange Call proposals.

The Je-S system will request a 'Pathways to Impact' attachment, and applicants are asked to submit a blank 'dummy' document to satisfy this requirement.

The form will also request input to 'Impact Summary' and 'Academic Beneficiaries' fields. Again, these are not requirements of the KE Call, and applicants are asked to populate these with "not applicable" or similar to satisfy Je-S.

Aims

The KE Call is designed to foster end-user engagement with the science that NERC supports. The scheme is not intended for research activities, but rather to encourage and enable the sharing and exchange of knowledge, people, skills and expertise between the NERC research base and its end-user communities. The Call is flexible in order to make provision for the many types of knowledge exchange activities that exist. These types of activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Special data management
  • Formation of networks
  • Special publications
  • Workshops
  • Training for Industry or the public sector

NOTE: Applicants wishing to request funds for a KE facilitator / translator should apply through the KE Fellowship scheme.

Opportunity to have a facilitator for engagement with the financial services sector

NERC has some funding to pay for the services of a facilitator to progress the engagement of NERC researchers with the financial services sector, including working with the Financial Services Knowledge Transfer Network. The role of this facilitator is to ensure you meet the right people, organise meetings or workshops on your behalf and alert you to new opportunities. If this type of service would be useful to you please submit an outline no longer than one side of A4 to Lynne Porter by 20 May. We are happy to discuss proposals by telephone or email prior to the closing date. All applications will be considered by the Knowledge Exchange Call Panel in July.

Proposals will be assessed on economic and societal impact.

Awards

There is no minimum or maximum time limit: the length of the project should be appropriate to the activity that is being proposed. This will be considered in during the assessment process. A maximum of £125k may be requested per KE Call application, of which NERC will pay the standard proportion of full economic costs (see the Research Grants Handbook for full details).

Eligibility/Requirements

The KE Call is open to applicants based in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), NERC Research and Collaborative Centres, and Independent Research Organisations (IROs) approved by NERC. The institution / organisation concerned must currently be in receipt of NERC research funding.

Private, public or third sector organisations or institutions are eligible to be considered as end-users in the context of the KE Call. However, the stability of the organisation and if appropriate, the commitment of funds (or in-kind contribution) should be guaranteed for the duration of the proposed activity. Knowledge exchange to international end-users is an eligible activity: applicants do not need to ensure UK end-user representation on the application.

Research Council Institutes and HEIs are not eligible as end-users.

Applications should fall within the NERC science remit.

How to apply

Application is through the Je-SRP1 form, which will be available in Je-S from 28 April onwards.

The following downloadable documents contain further information on the KE Call. It is recommended that you read them before applying to the scheme:

KE Call guidance notes Posted 14 April 2010

Guidance for Network-type activities Posted 14 April 2010

Assessment criteria Posted 14 April 2010

Guidance for Project Partners Posted 14 April 2010

'Checklist' for applicants Posted 14 April 2010

KE Call letter of support - example of best practices Posted 28 April 2010

This letter of support (adapted from an original sent in to one of NERC's other funding schemes) provides an example of what NERC might expect to see in a KE Call letter of support. Comments have been added in blue italics.

Review information

In 2009, NERC commissioned a review of its Knowledge Exchange Call (KE Call) to assess the impact of projects supported to date through the KE Call and to provide recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of the KE Call. Based on these recommendations, the scheme is being re-launched with an increased focus on end-user engagement.

An Executive Summary of the review is available:

Review of the Knowledge Exchange Call

Further information please contact Andrew Richardson.