Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) seeks to support ambitious new strategic projects of benefit to the wider collegiate University and smaller subject-specific projects that will accelerate the impact of the University’s research through tangible economic or societal benefit. The SIF Panel meets termly to review applications.

The next Panel meeting will take place on 21 November, with application deadlines of 31st October 2025. All applications require formal endorsement by the lead relevant Division, or for university-wide projects, from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation.  For more information on intentions to apply, please contact your Division Leads.

For technical queries regarding the application process, please contact Dr Hara at: Thandiwe.hara-msulira@admin.ox.ac.uk.

 

 

SIF investments focus on identifying and developing high-impact, flexible and highly innovative or creative project concepts. It enhances the chances of excellent research having far-reaching impact, typically through attracting substantial external funding, or significantly advancing research translation and commercialisation.

The fund is worth up to a maximum of £2.5 million per year. The SIF is funded from annual surplus returns from research commercialisation activities, which Council has agreed will be shared with the Strategic Research Fund.

The SIF panel meets termly to review applications.

 

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is an internal University of Oxford fund, approved by University Council in July 2019. Its purpose is to increase the likelihood of Oxford’s excellent research achieving far-reaching impact, e.g. through attracting substantial external funding, advancing research translation, or driving societal and commercial benefits.

The SIF is designed to:

  • Build a world-class innovation ecosystem that enhances Oxford’s local and global impact.
  • Support research translation and entrepreneurial opportunities where public funding is difficult to secure.
  • Launch programmes with strong potential to become strategically transformative for the University.

 

The SIF is funded from annual surplus returns from research commercialisation activities. These returns are shared with the Strategic Research Fund (SRF), which focuses on building long-term research capacity. The SIF is worth up to £2.5 million per year, with the Panel meeting at least three times annually.

The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) supports the development of new strategic innovation projects that will accelerate impact of the excellent research by growing innovation activities at Oxford and attracting substantial external funding. The aim is to unlock significant opportunities either by pump-priming new or sustaining strategic and critical activities. It is aligned to the local and global (priority 4) of the emerging strategic plan (2025-30) - Supporting society and the local and national economy by further developing a world-leading and inclusive innovation ecosystem.

More specifically to:

i)       develop a world-class innovation ecosystem,

ii)      support entrepreneurship in line with the outcomes of the spin-out review

iii)     enhance our local and global impact

SIF funding is mainly directed towards Strategic or Platform Projects, which support large-scale, high-impact initiatives. These projects have broad and flexible eligibility criteria.

 

Smaller Subject-Specific Projects are also supported to strengthen the pipeline of innovation activity. These awards are capped in value and require divisional approval, expert opinion, and evidence that other funding options have been explored.

  • Strategic or Platform Projects (Primary): In the past these have ranged between £600,000–£900,000, though final amounts are set by the SIF Panel based on available budget.
  • Subject-Specific Projects (Secondary): Capped at £200,000.

The SIF supports direct costs linked to project development, including:

  • Technical expertise (internal or external) to support bids, contracts, or business cases, such as:
    • Project costings.
    • Environmental, archaeological, social, or economic impact assessments.
  • Bid development (where eligible), including external expertise and associated VAT costs.
  • Project management roles essential for:
    • Delivering pilot or preparatory activities.
    • Developing or strengthening new or existing partnerships.
  • Direct enabling costs, including:
    • Early-stage, piloting, or preparatory work for innovation projects.
    • Events to develop or strengthen partnerships.

 

Use of Existing Staff Expertise

Applicants may request funding for expertise from existing staff. These requests will be considered case by case and must:

  • Clearly justify why the activity goes beyond the staff member’s normal role.
  • Address any potential issues of accountability, conflict of interest, or ethics.

The SIF is a one-off, time-limited fund for developing new projects. It does not cover:

  • Ongoing costs of existing projects (business as usual).
  • External delivery or implementation of projects.
  • Basic research.
  • Overheads (except in exceptional, fully justified cases).

A panel chaired by the PVC (Innovation) will make funding decisions. Members are drawn from:

                    

▪ Divisions

▪ A college representative

▪ Subject matter specialists such as academic leads

▪ Global innovation expertise – internal or external Guidance for the Strategic Innovation Fund

The role of the panel is to:

  • Review submitted applications to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Assess quality, viability, and sustainability plans of each application, ensuring fairness of assessment and promotion of equality, diversity and inclusion.
  • Make recommendations for cost adjustments or potential areas for improvement prior to funding or potential resubmission.
  • Prioritize applications that can and should be funded or re-submitted, and determine the level of each SIF award, as permitted within the available annual budget.

Current membership of the panel is:

  • Prof Chas Bountra (PVC Innovation)
  • Prof Alex Betts
  • Prof. Andrew Thompson
  • Prof Constantin Coussion
  • Dr. Mairi Gibbs
  • Prof Dermot O’Hare
  • Prof Heidi Johansen-Berg
  • Prof Louise Slater
  • Prof Dame Molly Stevens
  • Tim Bestwick

The scheme is administered by Research Services and the panel will decide on the level of SIF award to be made. The SIF will report to the Knowledge Exchange and Impact  Sub Committee (KEISC) and to the Research and Innovation Committee (RIC) as necessary.

Applicants must be internal to the University. However, collaborations with external partners that enhance project scope, innovation and impact are strongly encouraged. Projects will need to meet most of the following criteria:

 

  • Strategic Alignment: alignment with the University’s emerging Strategic Plan and SIF objectives as outlined above.
  • Transformational Impact: demonstration of a potential for significant and measurable economic or social benefits.
  • Scalability and Sustainability: a clear plan for outputs, outcomes, and sustained impact beyond the funding period.
  • Leveraging Opportunities: an outline of how the project could unlock larger opportunities, such as substantial external investment or expanded regional/global influence
  • Strong Foundations: projects that are supported by robust partnerships and governance structures, including clear deliverables and monitoring plans
  • Complementary Funding: where other funds have been secured, demonstrate no duplication, and provide an outline how SIF funding complement these sources
  • Approval from Divisions: If applicable, confirmation that the applicant has adequately consulted their division(s) and they have divisional approval to submit the application.

Departments and divisions will need to approve applications as part of the application process in IRAMS. 

Need guidance? Please contact your divisional SIF representative as below:

For subject-specific projects, OUI will also need to formally approve all applications involving any aspect of University IP or know-how. OUI can be contacted on enquiries@innovation.ox.ac.uk or via web form Contact us - Oxford University Innovation.

The next deadline is 31 October 2025, and applications should be made on the IRAMS portal. For information about future deadlines, please contact Dr Thandiwe Hara.

Research Services will open a minimum of one call per term, with divisions responsible for promoting these opportunities through their channels. Funding availability fluctuates each year, so where funding has been depleted, funding calls may be cancelled, and where funds permit, additional calls may be scheduled. 

 

All divisional applicants must follow the following process:

 

  1. Contact the SIF representative in their division to inform them of the intent to apply and this must be done no later than 10 days before the submission deadline. Details of who they should contact in their divisions are indicated below. This initial step is an opportunity to secure divisional support by discussing the strategic fit of their bid, gathering feedback, and addressing any specific divisional requirements. Applicants must confirm they have consulted their division and secured support in section 2 of the application form.  Departments/divisions will then confirm their approval by the set deadlines in IRAMS. 

 

  1. Contact Dr. Thandiwe Hara in Research Services email: sif@admin.ox.ac.uk  to discuss the application process, and to inquire on timelines.

 

  1. Submit the application in IRAMS by the advertised deadline.

 

  1. All other applicants (non-divisional) must contact Dr. Thandiwe Hara in Research Services on sif@admin.ox.ac.uk  to notify their intention to apply as soon as possible, and no later than 10 days before the submission date.

If you have a general queries about the SIF please contact:

Impact Statements

 

The support from SIF has been instrumental to the early success of Kickstarting Heritage Innovation. The funding provided has not only ensured that the project has a dedicated full-time project manager but has further enabled the project to develop discrete employment opportunities for researchers both within the university as well as external consultants.

Having a full-time project manager has ensured a stability and continuity essential for growing both our sustained relationships to partners such as Blenheim Palace as well as the research programmes we have developed with them. In the year since our project began, we have watched our demonstration projects grow from pilot studies into a cohesive research initiative with unique legacy potential.

None of this would have been possible without the support of the Strategic Innovation Fund.

Kickstarting Heritage Innovations

Next deadline

Apply on IRAMS 

Contacts

Please get in touch with your divisional representative to discuss your proposal or idea.

For any general queries about the SIF please contact:

Documents

For the latest guidance and application form to the SIF, please contact Dr. Thandiwe Hara on Thandiwe.hara-msulira@admin.ox.ac.uk