Automotive Impact Acceleration Account
Summary
Brunel University has successfully secured an EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) that will provide £600k funding over the next three years (2012-2015).
As part of this initiative, a range of activities will be delivered to:
- accelerate the impact of EPSRC funded research targeted at the automotive sector
- deliver greater collaboration with the automotive supply chain
- bridge the gap between the lab and the marketplace
- support Brunel academics to engage more effectively with industry
Background and Context
The flexible award will enable and enhance the activities by which the University can accelerate and maximise the impact of EPSRC funded research, initially within the automotive sector, before being more widely extended.
The funding comes as a result of a recent EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) review of its schemes to support impact activities in universities, particularly where opportunities arise during and after an awarded grant. The aim of the investment is to enable the EPSRC to better understand how to maximise its portfolio and give universities the resources to “narrow the gap” in terms of exploitation.
Aims and Objectives
In successfully securing the IAA award, the core aim of the University is to promote and accelerate the impact of EPSRC funded research targeted at the automotive sector. This requires effort at both ends of the exploitation pipeline. At the user end, awareness and clarity of potential opportunities are key requisites whilst at the research end, a realistic understanding of industry’s needs and the potential impacts of implementation – economic, social or environmental – is essential to success.
The IAA application is built around a model of end user engagement from research conception, through optimisation for market readiness and ultimately to realisation in industry.
