This scheme aims to fund scoping and development of new non-academic partnerships, the development of emerging connections in the UK for research and collaboration, or the growth of existing relationships into more strategic and sustainable partnerships. 

Scheme priorities

In line with LSE Research for the World strategy objectives, this scheme aims to support activities that strengthen non-academic partnerships, support engagement with non-academic partners, foster growth in non-academic partnered research focusing on innovation and policy development, and provide additional funding to expand current non-academic collaborations in scope and number.

Proposals are invited to establish new partnerships and sustain and grow existing partnerships that result in opportunities for external funding and other strategic ventures in-line with LSE strategy, novel impact pathways, and improved LSE team networking and engagement skills.

This scheme supports non-academic partnerships only. Projects seeking development of global research partnerships should apply to the Global Research Fund.

Funding available 

The total available funding for the scheme is £200,000 per year.

Annual funding is distributed equally throughout the year. These distributions are timed to support research activities at critical stages and are in place to ensure no advantage is gained by applying at a specific time of year.

Projects can request up to £20,000 for up to 12 months and must be ready to start within a month of awarding.

Examples of projects 

• Partnership building events (including workshops, public lectures or discussions, conferences, hackathons or roundtables) involving non-academic partners from any region.
• Networking and community building events to establish and nurture new connections.
• Scoping of collaborative research and knowledge exchange with existing non-academic partners from any region.
• Scoping the expansion of existing LSE research to provide benefits to non-academic partners from any region.
• Collaborative network building across different sectors and disciplines, creating platforms for ongoing dialogue, knowledge exchange, and joint problem-solving efforts including external funding applications.
• Joint initiatives that focus on enhancing the capabilities of non-academic partners, including training and other educational activities designed to build expertise in areas of mutual interest.
• Partner visits, short placements or exchanges.
• Collaboration to contribute to curriculum development and student learning (including case studies development or civic engagement).

Examples of costs

• Research assistance both hourly paid and salaried which is linked to roles in the project.
• Staff time, for DI staff, to engage with partners and collaborators.
• Costs of hosting events and other dissemination activities.  
• Travel, subsistence and accommodation costs.
• Participant payments and/or incentives as part of formal surveys or for community groups and beneficiaries involved in the partnerships.
• Consultancy services in the UK and overseas which must include associated taxes and fees.
• Goods and services required from suppliers including surveys or transcription and translation services which must include associated VAT and fees.
• Attendance at conferences, symposia and other networking and dissemination events.
• Small items of consumables.  
• Other project specific costs, such as equipment (where it is directly linked to delivering project objectives).

Timetable 

Deadline occur once per term, as follows:

Application process

All applications are submitted through the Internal Funding Application Form.

You can find the guidance for the application form here.

Applicant eligibility 

• Applications must align with the scheme priorities in this scheme guidance.
• All schemes are open to Faculty, Research and Policy Staff, Teaching Staff, and LSE Fellows as listed in LSE HR Role Profiles. Teaching Staff must demonstrate the proposed project is in line with their teaching field. Visiting scholars can apply providing they are able to demonstrate their link to LSE for the duration of the project, and have the sponsorship of an LSE academic staff. No funding can be requested for visiting scholars, as those are unpaid affiliations.
• Applicants must confirm that they have the full support of their host academic unit as part of their application. An award letter co-signed by the hosting unit lead will be required at award stage.
• Applicants must have a contract of employment at LSE in place for the entire project duration and be able to demonstrate continued links with LSE into the future, in order to ensure that post-award assessment and regular communications can be carried out for all awarded projects. Changes to contracts must be communicated to the R&I Funds Manager to ensure compliance with this rule.
• Previous awardees of internal funding must confirm the submission of the final report of closed projects.
• Applicants may not hold more than one project per scheme at any one time (either as PI or Co-I).
• Current LSE Students may not apply.

Cost eligibility 

Staff should speak to Rachel Middlemass to prepare their application and must seek support for preparing any LSE staff costs in their budget.

Staff who do not request support from their designated contact may experience delays in their funding decision and project kick-off. 

The following costs are eligible for this scheme:

• Directly incurred non-staff costs such as travel, consumables, goods, equipment, services, and consultants (including associated fees and taxes).
• Hourly Paid Staff costs for occasional research assistance and clerical support.
• Directly Incurred Salaried research and policy staff costs.

Specialist costs to make project activities more accessible that are not already covered by LSE support are also eligible, such as:

• Costs for care of dependents where it is unavoidable.
• Costs to make adjustments within travel and accommodation bookings for staff who need them.
• Cost to make sure outputs are accessible (both for researchers and stakeholders, such as braille printed books or pamphlets).
• Costs of specialist contractors that are working on EDI supporting activities, such as audio transcription for events, etc.
• Costs to make events more accessible including specialist venues and supporting staff.

The following costs are not eligible under this scheme:

• Directly allocated (LSE NAC Staff) Salaried staff costs.
• Collaborator and Partner staff costs.
• Indirect (overheads) and estates (space) charges of LSE or any Partner and Collaborator.
• Open Access fees and article processing charges covered by the Open Access Fund.
• DI teaching contract or hourly paid teaching costs are not eligible.
• No funding can be requested for visiting scholars, as those are unpaid affiliations.

Review and selection 

Submitted applications will be checked against eligibility criteria. Ineligible applications will be rejected for the funding round and will not be taken forward to peer-review.

Applications under £10,000 will be assessed by the Operations Group.

Applications over £10,000 will be sent for peer review by the Impact and Innovation Panel or the Research Development Panel. 

Projects involving non-academic partners will be assessed by the Impact and Innovation Panel. 

Projects involving UK academic partners will be assessed by the Research Development Panel. 

Assessment criteria

The template for the peer review forms will be linked here once available.

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria.

Support 

Please contact Rachel Middlemass for support and guidance on developing your application.

General queries, feedback and comments on this scheme can be sent to Mariane Bignotto, R&I Funds Manager.