KEIF Strategy Reporting Guidance for AY 2025–26

3. In June 2025, SFC published five-year KEIF strategies (AY 2025–26 to AY 2029–30). These strategies set out institutional priorities for knowledge exchange and innovation activity supported by KEIF and align with Scottish Government national priorities. Alongside KE metric data, they form a key part of KE&I expectations in the SFC Outcomes Framework and Assurance model.
4. Institutions submitted a short transitional report in autumn 2025, capturing the benefits and additionality of KEIF funding in AY 2024–25.
5. Institutions are now required to submit a full annual report that describes progress against the delivery of their five-year KEIF strategy over AY 2025–26. The report should reflect metric data and set out how the institution has adjusted priorities and activities in light of challenges/opportunities where necessary.
6. Annual reports (excluding case studies) will not be published, and institutions are encouraged to be open and detailed in their submissions.

7. The annual report should:
   • Provide a clear summary of progress against the institution’s KEIF strategy, referring to delivery against forecast data.
   • Highlight key achievements and opportunities where these relate to the overall delivery of the five-year strategy.
   • Clearly evidence the impact and additionality of KEIF funding.
   • Highlight any challenges that have affected or are likely to affect future delivery, outlining how these are being managed. Any ‘reportable events’ should be highlighted (for example closure/reduction of key support capacity) which SFC are keen to understand at an institutional and sectoral/national level.
   • Comment on KE metric data for AY 2025-26,^[1] making reference to forecast data and actual activity/income levels with narrative matching priorities and activity set out in the report.
   • Set out priorities and planned activity for AY 2026-27, highlighting any significant changes to the institution’s published strategy and delivery of activity/income set out in forecast data.

8. SFC will use the report (including case studies) to:
   • Support the SFC outcomes and assurance process.
   • Monitor delivery against institutional KEIF strategies and discuss this with institutions.
   • Evidence the value, impact and additionality of KEIF investment at an institutional and sector level.
   • Communicate the achievements of institutions with external stakeholders, including Scottish Government.
   • Support future evaluation activity.

^[1] SFC KE metric return guidance for AY 2025-26 has been issued in parallel with the KEIF reporting guidance and should be returned to SFC by 30 November 2026. Institutions should ensure that data presented in the KEIF strategy report is accurate and consistent with the information submitted in the KE metric return. KEIF reporting leads may therefore need to liaise with relevant colleagues across their institution during preparation of the report.

9. Using the template provided, institutions should submit a report on progress against their KEIF strategy for AY 2025–26 and outline/reaffirm priorities for AY 2026–27.
10. In addition to a high-level performance summary, institutions should report against each section of their strategy. This should include confirmation that the Platform Grant has been matched, specifying whether this is cash or in-kind.
11. To support the embedding of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) across KEIF and supported activities, institutions should describe relevant EDI approaches and progress within each section of the report, where applicable. Additional information may be provided in the dedicated EDI section where necessary.
12. The report should clearly set out any significant changes or deviations from the approved strategy in the context of delivery. SFC will review these with the relevant institution and may agree appropriate adjustments. Where changes are agreed, minor amendments to the published version may be permitted and hosted on the SFC website.
13. Recognising the financial and capacity challenges reported by institutions, we invite institutions to provide updated information on their KE&I capacity. This information will support SFC’s understanding of current delivery capacity and any emerging or potential risks to strategy delivery and wider implications.

Case studies

14. Institutions should provide at least two case studies demonstrating the impact of KE&I activity supported by KEIF. These will contribute to our evidence base on the importance of core funding to support KE&I in Scotland and demonstrate the value and impact of these activities.
15. To help build a balanced database of case studies and demonstrate alignment with areas of Scottish Government priority we may provide guidance on the focus for these each year.
16. For the AY 2025-26 report at least one case study should be on the specific benefits of KEIF to the delivery of Scottish Government’s net zero ambitions.
17. Case studies should:
    • Be suitable for a non-specialist audience, avoiding jargon or excessive acronym use.
    • Be of publishable quality and include hyperlinks where appropriate.
    • Clearly reference the contribution of KEIF to the activity.
    • Be a maximum of 300 words in length.

18. SFC may wish to use case studies for a variety of purposes and audiences and institutions. Case studies shared with SFC will be considered publishable. They should not, therefore, contain personal data or any other confidential information.

19. KEIF strategy reports should be approved by the Principal or Head of Institution on behalf of the Governing Body.

20. A template is provided at Annex A to support consistency of submission.
21. We recognise the time taken to prepare and approve the annual report and welcome submission anytime between 1 September and the end of November 2026.
22. Please return your completed report to keif@sfc.ac.uk.

^[2] Personal data collected as part of the report will be used for internal purposes only for the purpose of assessment and assurances relating to sign-off. No personal data will be shared or published wider. For further information relating to how SFC processes and manages information, including data subjects’ rights, please refer to our privacy notices.

The KEIF formulaic element (Outcome Grant) is driven by data submitted through the KE metric return and the HE-BCI Survey (graduate start-ups and spin-outs active and survived at least three years). These KE&I activity categories, reflect Scottish Government priorities.

^[3] SFC KE metric return guidance for AY 2025-26 has been issued in parallel with the KEIF strategy reporting guidance and should be returned to SFC by 30 November 2026. Institutions should ensure that data presented in the KEIF strategy report is accurate and consistent with the information submitted in the KE metric return. KEIF reporting leads may therefore need to liaise with relevant colleagues across their institution during preparation of the report.

KEIF supports a broad range of knowledge exchange activities at Scottish universities that are delivered in partnership with industry, public and third sector organisations. These knowledge-based interactions result in significant economic and social benefits; however, they may be difficult to quantify as may be non-income generating.

Please provide at least two case studies demonstrating the impact of KE&I activity supported by KEIF.

Case studies should be clear on the specific benefits of KEIF to the highlighted activity, articulating its contribution to the delivery of Scottish Government national priorities (including the National Innovation Strategy and the four priority areas outlined in the Programme for Government (eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency, and ensuring high quality and sustainable public services) and should showcase how KEIF supports these strategic goals.

For the AY 2025-26 report at least one case study should be on the specific benefits of KEIF to the delivery of Scottish Government’s net zero ambitions.

Institutions are also encouraged to provide a case study on wider KE&I activities that are likely to be non-income generating which add societal and economic value to Scotland and beyond.

Case studies should:

• Be suitable for a non-specialist audience, avoiding jargon or excessive acronym use.
• Be of publishable quality and include hyperlinks where appropriate.
• Clearly reference the contribution of KEIF to the activity.
• Be a maximum of 300 words in length.

SFC may wish to use case studies for a variety of purposes and audiences and institutions and if shared will be considered publishable. They should not, therefore, contain any personal details or other confidential information.

Additional case studies may be submitted, following the structure and guidance above, including word limit.