Funding Opportunities for KEI

Funds to support knowledge exchange activities based on LSE research and expertise

Funding comes from the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) allocation received by the School.

 
Supporting knowledge exchange throughout the research lifecycle

Funding opportunities for KEI activities at LSE will be listed below. Please contact the KEI Integrated Service if you'd like to discuss any form of knowledge exchange and impact activity.

You can also subscribe to Research Briefing to receive a monthly update from LSE Research and Innovation

Internal Funding

KEI Large-Bid Fund

The Knowledge Exchange and Impact (KEI) large bid fund is a competitive funding pot for ambitious knowledge exchange projects, with potential for significant impact and with a clear impact plan.  There will be two application calls in the Autumn (1st) and Spring (3rd) terms for projects from £20-100k lasting for up to a maximum of 2 years. Projects are invited on all research areas and applications will be reviewed by the School’s Research Development Panel (RDP).

Applications can be for any KEI activities (including public, community, policy and corporate engagement) but must relate to research undertaken at LSE. Applicants will be required to identify the non-academic groups they will be engaging with and how they will reach them; demonstrate the significance, timeliness and need of their project; and map out the intended outcomes and possible impacts. Staff costs (direct only) can be included in applications if justified, but the lead applicant must be able to demonstrate eligibility for a future REF impact case study (usually on a research contract of at least 0.2FTE). All applications must be supported by the applicant’s Head of Department, Institute or Centre Director. 

Please email research.kei@lse.ac.uk to let us know you are planning to apply in advance of the draft deadline and to check the eligibility of your project. You can download the application form and budget template. The KEI Integrated Service will work with applicants to develop their ideas and give guidance on costs, so you must submit a rough draft of your application and budget at least a month before the application deadline to allow for feedback.

Upcoming deadlines:

Spring Term 2024 (for projects starting from 1 August 2024):
Deadline for draft application: 19 April 2024
Deadline for final application: 17 May 2024

LSE Research and Impact Support Fund (RISF)

A fund aimed to support world-class research and knowledge exchange by LSE academic, research and policy staff. LSE's Research Development Panel (RDP) will award up to £20,000 per project. This can include projects with a KEI focus or elements.

The 2024 RISF call includes two key changes from previous years, which are:

  • The call has two parts which are running in parallel. One Open Call, and one Spotlight Call on the topic of AI.
  • PhD students are eligible to make applications to the Spotlight Call for projects up to £5k.

The spotlight call is intended to provide an opportunity for researchers interested in AI to develop and explore their ideas, and to encourage pathways for new collaborative partnerships.

Timeline:

Deadline for submission of drafts

Friday 2 February 2024

Full application deadline

Thursday 15 February 2024

Applicants notified

April 2024

Projects to start by

1 June 2024

Projects to end by

31 May 2025

Full information on the call, including information, review and networking sessions planned to support applicants.

KE funds for Departments

Departmental KEI allocations are renewed annually (subject to the continuation of HEIF funding). Funding for 2023/24 must be spent by 31 July 2024 and will be awarded on the following conditions:

  1. Departments will be offered up to £5,000 of funding towards strategic KEI activities, which advance either their own KEI goals (in line with their REF environment statements) or with the wider Research for the World strategy. Funding should therefore focus on activities that would benefit the department as a whole, rather than individual academics. (See suggested areas below).
  2. Funding will be made available subject to approval of plans by the KEI Integrated Service (via Louise Jones, research.kei@lse.ac.uk). The KEI Integrated Service will work with departments to develop and support plans.
  3. At the end of this period a short report on spending will be required. Funding will not be made available for future years unless the report has been submitted.

Changes in funding allocation in 2021/22 were made in recognition that other sources of KEI funding now exist that fulfil some of the original purpose of these funds, particularly for individual academics (through the increased personal research funds and the new Research and KEI Support Fund) and for PhD students (through the KEI Fund for PhD students).

Suggested areas

  • Use of funding to update departmental websites or content used to engage external audiences with LSE research including research films, animations, infographics.
  • Activities to build partnerships or connections with relevant external groups, e.g. businesses, policy makers, heritage sector, local communities, schools.
  • Activities to support the development of impact case studies for REF 2028.
  • Activities and initiatives that engage students with KEI, connecting research impact, teaching and the student experience.
  • Training in skills required for effective KEI in your discipline, if not covered by the central training programme.
  • Funding to support monitoring and evaluation of KEI across the department.

PhD KEI Funds 2023/24

A competitive funding pot for PhD students looking to increase the chances of their research having an impact through engagement with non-academic audiences. Termly deadline for applications for projects up to £5k, lasting up to 1 year. 

Please send expressions of interest to research.kei@lse.ac.uk. The KEI Integrated Service will work with PhD candidates to develop their ideas and complete an application form - this process will likely take a few weeks, so please allow sufficient time. Before submission, applications have to be supported by PhD supervisors. Applications are then considered and approved by a panel of reviewers. Decisions are made by the end of the term of application.

Winter Term deadline - Friday 9 February 2024

Spring Term deadline - Friday 10 May 2024

Innovation funding

LSE researchers can access a number of grants and schemes to help you develop and commercialise your idea. Browse available funds here and contact LSE Innovation, who can advise you on the application process.

 

External Funding

Knowledge Exchange and Impact Funding Opportunities - RISe training session

Have you heard about the range of funding opportunities available for knowledge exchange and impact? These could be for your existing grant or newly funded activity. This session will focus on funds to support knowledge exchange activities based on LSE research and expertise and how to maximize your funding by extending your work through dissemination and impact funding. This session will include internal schemes, as well as common external calls and follow-on funding opportunities.

More sessions to be scheduled for 2024.