ID147 Research & Impact Strategic Development Fund

The Idea

Establish a University-wide Academic Buyout Fund to give Keele the flexibility to release academic time for strategically important research, impact, engagement and partnership activity. The fund would focus on support academics to work on activities such as exceptional research bids, developing high level research collaborations, commercialisation opportunities, impact activity and civic or industry partnerships. Schools often struggle to release staff to work on such projects because of teaching and other competing pressures. A central buyout fund would help remove this barrier by enabling RaISE to purchase short-term teaching release where it will generate the greatest benefit. 

Information online is limited, but there are institutions that offer defined workload relief for impact roles, including Durham (0.2 FTE for case study authors), Aston (0.1 FTE for case study authors) and Nottingham Trent (0.2 FTE for ‘Impact Champion’s), whilst LSE operates a formal Buyout Policy allowing academic staff to request buyout to undertake funded or internally prioritised research. 

Through the idea proposed, with relatively minimal investment, Keele has the opportunity to support activity with large potential gains.

Why This Idea Should Be Considered

UKRI and Government policy now emphasise research translation, commercialisation and mission driven funding, increasing competition for applied and partnership centred opportunities. Without dedicated academic time, Keele risks missing strategically important research opportunities (including funding calls), partnerships, impact pathways and commercialisation opportunities. A buyout fund provides a low cost, high leverage solution that mobilises existing academic strengths, generates REF-eligible impact, and enhances bid competitiveness. It sends a strong institutional signal that engagement, innovation and impact are valued core activities, not addons delivered in spare time. All activities have the potential for substantial return on investment.  

How We Would Implement This Idea

Keele could implement the scheme through a centrally managed fund run by the RaISE Team, with final approval at Director or PVC level. Schools would be given advance notice, e.g., three months to plan teaching cover. Buyouts would typically be 0.1–0.3 FTE for 3–6 months, focusing on activities with strategic or economic value. Around £100k could fund approximately 20 buyouts per year, with a portion reserved for an open call to encourage bottom-up ideas. Clear criteria would govern selection, including strategic alignment, feasibility, expected outcomes and potential for return on investment. Transparent reporting and milestones would ensure accountability. There would be a focus on fairness, to ensure that the overall view of the scheme is of transparency and balanced opportunity across the academic community.   

What Success Would Look Like

Success would mean Keele can rapidly mobilise academic expertise for high value opportunities, resulting in more competitive largescale research bids, stronger REF Impact Case Studies and enhanced partnership activity with industry, civic organisations and the NHS. The fund should lead to measurable increases in research income, KTPs, HEIF eligible activity and commercialisation outputs such as IP, licensing or spinout opportunities. Academics would report improved capacity to engage in translational work, and Schools would experience less strain from ad-hoc requests. Strategically, Keele would develop a more agile, outward facing research culture and become recognised for supporting impactful, engaged scholarship.