We are delighted to have secured an Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) award of £1.25 million from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) over a five-year period from April 2023. This is the first time the University has received IAA funding from the ESRC and will enable researchers to generate greater benefits from research within Economic and Social Science remit, helping create a more prosperous, inclusive, healthy and secure society.
Aims of the award
Aim 1: Cultivate a greater culture of impact and responsible innovation that benefits students, staff, University, wider society and economy
Aim 2: Accelerate impact through stimulating and supporting new and existing projects
Aim 3: Enhance local, regional, national and international strategic partnerships that address real-world problems
Funding opportunities
Summary details for each award are provided below. Each scheme has its own downloadable Guidance & Criteria document and application form, which include full details on eligibility and requirements.
See our latest ESRC IAA funding opportunities:
ESRC IAA Accelerating Impact Open Call
Application Window:
- Opens: 8 September 2025
- Closes: 10 November 2025
Impact Development Awards are available in two tiers:
- Tier 1: Projects up to £10,000
- Tier 2: Projects between £10,000-£20,000
A total of £100,000 is available to support activities that enhance the potential for the University’s social science research to positively impact society, the economy and people’s lives.
Projects must demonstrate a clear potential for impact, based on research linked to a previous ESRC grant or within the ESRC remit. Applications should include a well-defined plan for achieving and evidencing impact.
We particularly welcome interdisciplinary projects that are social science led. This call is open to all permanent academic research staff.
How to apply:
- Download the Guidance notes and application form.
- Join our Online Information Event on Tuesday 7 October 2025, 13.00 – 14.00
- Contact the IAA team to discuss your idea if you can’t make those times: impact-acceleration@bath.ac.uk.
- Submit your application with a fully costed and approved PAM budget by 10 November 2025 to: impact-acceleration@bath.ac.uk.
ESRC IAA Postdoc Impact Award Open Call
Application window:
- Opens: 8 September 2025
- Closes: 9 January 2026
Awards of up to £5,000 per project are available to:
- Research Assistants (RA)
- Postdoctoral Research Associates (PDRA)
- PhD graduates (must have been awarded their PhD before the project start date)
The award supports career and personal development through Knowledge Exchange and impact-related activities within the Economic and Social Sciences remit. You will act as a Principal Investigator (PI) for your project, gaining experience in:
- Leading an ESRC-funded project
- Translating research into real-world impact
- Working with impact professionals and external partners
- Managing an externally funded project
- Using academic management systems (e.g. PAM)
- Enhancing project management skills
Supported application process
The ESRC IAA team offers a structured support process:
- Submit an Expression of Interest form to confirm eligibility.
- Meet with the ESRC IAA Impact team (in person or online)
- Complete PAM costings with support from the RIS Pre-award team.
- Access impact planning resources.
- Submit your full application and PAM costings by Friday 9 January 2026.
Note: Only supported applications will be considered.
How to apply
- Complete the quick Expression of Interest form by Friday 17 October 2025
- Eligible applicants will receive the full application form
- Refer to the [Guidance and Criteria Document] for more details
- Sign up to the Information event on Tuesday 7 October
- Contact: impact-acceleration@bath.ac.uk.
ESRC IAA Flexi Fund – rolling award
Rolling award open from 8 September 2025 until funds are exhausted.
The ESRC flexi-fund is up to £3k for early-stage relationship building and idea development. The funding enables researchers to respond to new opportunities and might include knowledge exchange/mobilisation, knowledge brokering, co-production, implementation, engagement and communication (this list is not exhaustive). For example:
- relationship building, engagement activities and networking opportunities including workshops, events, developing training programmes in person or online
- placements, secondments, visits
- small-scale early-stage projects such as feasibility studies, co-producing resources or market research
We would particularly encourage projects that contribute to policy change, and secondments that exchange knowledge, skills and expertise.
This fund and the associated light touch assessment process have been developed to enable us to respond to your applications in a timely way so that you can take advantage of opportunities as they arise. These applications will be assessed for funding by the IAA Team within three weeks of submission.
See the guidance and guidelines for the ESRC IAA Flexi Fund.
Contact the IAA team to discuss your idea and support your application: impact-acceleration@bath.ac.uk