The Researcher Academy stand at the UoN Knowledge Exchange Day 2025
More than 100 academics and staff joined people from the university's Knowledge Exchange and Business Engagement (KEBE) landscape for a special event designed to help researchers maximise the real-world impact of their work.
The Knowledge Exchange (KE) Day took place on Wednesday 2 April, giving academics and early career researchers from all disciplines the opportunity to engage with teams specialising in knowledge exchange and commercialisation. The event, held at the Engineering and Science Learning Centre on University Park campus, also showcased resources available to support the translation of research into tangible societal and economic benefits.
In his welcome speech to guests, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation, Professor Ed Lester, said: “The KE Day was designed to help researchers maximise the real-world impact of their work and provide them with the opportunity to engage with knowledge exchange and commercialisation teams who are here to support them. It was fantastic to see collaboration between researchers and knowledge exchange professionals; it's through these relationships that we can create pathways to commercialisation and industry engagement.”
The day also featured speeches from guests from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). Jamie Jordan, Head of Economic Growth Strategy, and Shelley Harrod, Head of Research and Intelligence, spoke about the key regional sectors and their impact, the role innovation has in regional growth, and about the research unit at the EMCCA and how evidence-based research can inform local economic strategies.
The day was structured as an informal “marketplace” event, allowing participants to interact freely with the teams most relevant to their research interests.
Ahead of the KE Day attendees were encouraged to apply for an ‘Impact Exploration Grant’ of up to £5k, and the winning entries were announced at the day. A total of nine projects were chosen to receive an Impact Exploration Grant. View details of the winning entries (requires UoN account)
Impact Exploration Grants from the IAA are responsive grants for researchers to explore the potential impact of their research. The grants are designed to support the first investigative steps taking research towards commercialisation or other forms of impact, before it is known whether or not a commercial or other impact outcome is viable. The grants may also be used to capitalise on a short-term opportunity to maximise impact of a more mature project, or to build the case for a more substantive funding request from the Nottingham Impact Accelerator Accounts.
Posted on Tuesday 8th April 2025