Crossings & Coasts (C&C): Innovation Springboard is an AHRC IAA-funded programme designed to spark new interdisciplinary research, engagement and impact partnerships across Lancaster (LU), Teesside (TU) and Ulster (UU) Universities. It supports researchers who want to collaborate across disciplines and places to address shared priorities, challenges and opportunities within the creative industries.

Is this programme for you?

This programme is designed for researchers who:

• Are open to collaborating with researchers from other institutions and disciplines to address shared priorities, challenges and opportunities within the creative industries
• Want to engage new research-collaborators and external partners to secure scaled up multi-partner/multi-year funding (from UKRI or other sources)
• Hold a teaching and research, or research-only contract at one of the three partner universities
• Are at an early or mid-career stage

You don’t need to be a creative industries or arts and humanities specialist. Many disciplines intersect creatively with the sector, including advertising & marketing; architecture; crafts; design & designer fashion; film, TV, radio & photography; museums, galleries & libraries; music, performing & visual arts; publishing; and IT, software, computer services and video games.

What the programme offers:

• Online sessions, including kick-off session and development workshops/writing day on co-design with external partners, narrative development, interdisciplinarity, and impact planning
• Two researcher-focussed in person events (travel and subsistence fully funded) focussing on ideation, team formation, project refinement, and an opportunity to access IAA seed-corn funding (~£4,000 x six 6-month projects)
  • Event 1: Belfast — 28 April
  • Event 2: Manchester — 3 June
• Mentorship for project development (Leon Cruickshank, LU; Antonia Liguori, TU; Justin Magee, UU)

Selection approach

There are four places available per institution (i.e. four places for Lancaster researchers). We will aim for a balanced cohort across institutions, disciplines and career stages, prioritising applicants demonstrating potential for interdisciplinary collaboration and external engagement, and with a connection with the creative industries and/or AHRC remit (51%).

Timeframe and How to Apply

Complete the online form by Friday 20 March. If you want to ask questions or find out more you can attend the online webinar, to be held on Thursday 12 March 14:00-15:00: https://lancaster-uk.libcal.com/event/4517078. Note, if you want to attend this webinar from Ulster / Teesside then get in touch with the three IAA contacts below and we'll send you a link.

Stage	Your Commitments	When
Apply	Submit your EOI (20 March deadline)	2 Mar-20 Mar
Outcomes Communicated	Commit to programme structure	24 March
Early Connections	Attend online kick-off meeting	week comencing 13 Apr
In Person Event 1	Attend Belfast in person workshop	28 Apr
Online Session	Join online co‑creation and writing session/day	22 May
In-Person Event 2	Attend Manchester in person workshop	3 June
Funding Stage	Submit short written mini IAA proposal	12 June
Project Delivery	Deliver mini-IAA project	Jun–Sep
Project Delivery	Two online development sessions	Jun–Jul
Showcase	Present at end of programme showcase	Oct-Nov

For further information, please contact your institutional AHRC IAA contacts:

Jamie Hodge j.p.hodge@lancaster.ac.uk

Sally Blackburn-Daniels s.blackburn-daniels@tees.ac.uk

Justin Magee jdm.magee@ulster.ac.uk