Lancaster University, Teesside University and Ulster University are pleased to launch Crossings & Coasts – Culture Innovation Springboard, an AHRC IAA funded programme that offers researchers dedicated space, support and time to explore potential research impact, explore new ideas, and build cross institution collaborations. The programme helps researchers turn early-stage concepts into credible, collaborative project ideas with clear potential for future IAA, UKRI, Innovate UK, or Creative Industries aligned bids.
Is this programme for you?
The Springboard is aimed at ECRs and MCRs across LU, TU and UU who:
- Want structured space to develop impact pathways for their work
- Are curious about interdisciplinary and cross institution collaboration
- Have an interest in or connection to the Creative Industries
- Would benefit from support to turn early ideas into fundable concepts
- Are open to working with new academic colleagues and external partners to start the process of securing scaled up multi-partner/multi-year funding (from UKRI or other sources).
You don’t need to be a Creative Industries or Arts and Humanities specialist. Many disciplines intersect creatively with the sector, which includes: advertising & marketing; architecture; crafts; design & designer fashion; film, TV, radio & photography; museums, galleries & libraries; music, performing & visual arts; publishing; and IT, software & computer services (including video games). The AHRC disciplines are available online (see Annex A: https://www.ukri.org/publications/ahrc-research-funding-guide/ahrc-research-funding-guide-for-applicants/). In practice, projects should be at least ~51% Creative Industries and/or AHRC aligned.
What the programme offers
Crossings & Coasts creates protected time and a supportive environment for researchers to work on idea development, collaboration and impact. Participants will take part in:
- An online kick-off session on interdisciplinarity, impact and early idea shaping
- Two researchers only in person events featuring facilitated ideation, team formation, project refinement, and pitching for mini IAA seedcorn funding (~£4,000 per project)
- Event 1: Manchester — 29 April
- Event 2: Belfast — 3 June
- Two online development workshops focused on bid development, interdisciplinarity, scaling activity and impact planning
- Light touch evaluation and concise project summaries to support future bids
- IAA funded travel/subsistence costs
Relevance to the Impact Acceleration Account
The programme is impact led by design, offering researchers:
- Time and tools to explore the real-world cultural, social or economic impact of emerging ideas
- Space to understand sector needs and potential beneficiaries
- Support from research development and impact colleagues
- Opportunities to involve your external partners
Attendance requirement
To ensure fairness, cohesion and effective team building, attendance at both in person events is mandatory. Applicants must be available on 29 April (Belfast) and 3 June (Manchester) to be considered.
Selection approach
The selection panel will curate a balanced cohort across institutions, disciplines and career stages, prioritising applicants who:
- Show strong potential for cross institution collaboration
- Align with the Creative Industries and/or AHRC remit (51%)
- Demonstrate interest in working with external partners
- Are willing to develop exploratory ideas into fundable, impact driven concepts, which form the basis of a major UKRI (or other) grant
How to apply
An Expression of Interest (EOI) form will be released shortly. All eligible researchers are encouraged to apply.
For further information, please contact your institutional AHRC IAA team.