KE Seed Fund
The 2024-2025 Knowledge Exchange Seed Fund is now open for applications for academic, research or research support staff from all divisions! Applications are open until 25 November 2024. The fund will re-open in Hilary term with funding left over from the previous round.
At a glance
The KE Seed Fund is a University of Oxford internal grant scheme designed to support Knowledge Exchange activities and projects. The scheme is funded by the University’s Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) allocation, to “support knowledge exchange between higher education providers and the wider world that benefits society and the economy”.
Applications from those new to or experienced in Knowledge Exchange activity are equally welcome. Funds (typically £2k to £4k, up to a maximum of £5k) can be requested to pilot a new project or enhance an existing activity.
The fund, which has been running for 9 years, has supported a wide range of impactful projects from policy and digital inclusion to health, history, social ventures, business and culture. You can read case studies about some past KE Seed funded projects on the Oxford Impact Case Studies website, by setting the Research Funder in the filters, half-way down the page, to “KE Seed Fund”.
Eligibility and key information
Applicants (PIs) can be academic, research or research support staff from the University of Oxford or Oxford University Innovation. Research support staff applying as PIs must do so in conjunction with an Oxford academic or researcher as project partner. College-only post holders can apply, but awards must be held within a Department or Faculty, so college-only applicants need to seek approval from a Head of Department or Faculty, and their associated finance team, before applying. Typically, the fund receives £30,000 - £40,000 each year, in September, and we aim to support between 10 and 15 projects up to July of the following year.
As with other HEIF awards, the fund supports activities on a year-by-year basis. As such, all awards need to be spent by Monday 30th June 2025, and activities associated with the award must be complete no later than Thursday 31st July 2025.
Applicants should read the following documentation before applying:
- KE Seed Fund – Guidance Notes 2024-25
- KE Seed Fund – Requirements and Conditions 2024-25
Need help or advice about your application? Please email keseedfund@admin.ox.ac.uk
Applying to the KE Seed Fund
Applications should be made through the IRAMS (Internal Research Award Management System). This will include completing an online form and uploading a 'Case for Support' in PDF format. The 2024-25 Case for Support template should be used, and the template for this is available at the link below and within the IRAMS system.
- KE Seed Fund – Case for Support template 2024-25
Letter(s) of Support
KE Seed Fund Guidelines require each project to have identified at least one external partner ahead of the project taking place. External partners should be involved in the project from the start, and clearly aware and supportive of the application, the proposed activities, and their intended outputs and outcomes. At least one partner should not be a Higher Education Provider.
Each Partner/Partner Organisation should provide a brief and explicit letter of support, the content of which is as set out in the Guidelines. When you apply to the Fund, please send Letters of Support to keseedfund@admin.ox.ac.uk.
Timelines
The Michaelmas round of applications will close on 25 November 2024, 6pm.
PIs will be notified of application outcomes within approximately 4-6 weeks of the fund’s closing date.
Please note, you are advised to consult with your Departmental/Faculty approver prior to applying, to ensure your application will be approved, and once submitted on IRAMS, that it will be approved ahead of the KE Seed Fund deadline.
We will aim to set up the award within 2 weeks of panel approval.
All awards must be spent by Monday 30th June 2025 to leave time for financial processing of costs incurred.
Reporting
Awardees are required to provide a final project report which should be prepared using the KE Seed Fund Reporting template and emailed to keseedfund@admin.ox.ac.uk by Friday 5th September 2025.
- KE Seed Fund – Final Project Report template 2024-25
Questions
If you have any questions, please contact the Knowledge Exchange Seed Fund team at: keseedfund@admin.ox.ac.uk
For advice and support on the development of your proposal plans and ideas, please contact your Research Facilitator.
Key Documents
- KE Seed Fund – Guidance Notes 2024-25
- KE Seed Fund – Requirements and Conditions 2024-25
- KE Seed Fund – Case for Support 2024-25
- KE Seed Fund – Final Project Report template
Contact us
For enquiries, please email keseedfund@admin.ox.ac.uk
