The University of Huddersfield has been awarded £1.25 million from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) over five years in an Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) to support impact and work with all partners from all sectors to apply social sciences knowledge to societal challenges. 

The funding is part of a new £40 million investment by ESRC to maximise the societal and economic benefits from social science research across the UK. Thirty-two research organisations across the country will benefit from the five-year IAAs funding, which enables research organisations to support a wide range of social, economic, and behavioural science impact activities. 

The University of Huddersfield is one of 13 institutions new to ESRC IAA. This funding complements recent success in the University being awarded funding from the AHRC and EPSRC Impact Acceleration Accounts. 

The University will offer opportunities for researcher-led collaboration with non-academic partners. It will also use the funding to build links with partners and collaborators through projects and training, which will be instrumental in enabling academic colleagues to apply social sciences knowledge to real-world challenges.

Research organisations awarded an IAA are empowered to use the funds flexibly and responsively, aligning with their strategic aims, to unlock the value of their existing social science research. The University of Huddersfield is committed to using the funding to further develop research impact at a local level, commercialise social science research and create new partnerships with businesses, support charities and public sector organisations to deliver better services, and engage the public with research.

Dr Nick Lancaster, Director of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Exchange at the University, said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded £1.25 million from the ESRC's Impact Acceleration Account, which will enable us to further expand our work with businesses and other partners, and increase the impact of our social science research. 

“This funding will allow us to build even stronger collaborations with a diverse range of sectors and organisations, creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange and innovation. We are committed to maximising the societal and economic benefits of our research, and this investment will help us to achieve this goal on an even greater scale.”