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University innovation

The University Innovation Fund (UIF) incentivises universities to work collaboratively to design and adopt innovative new approaches to exploiting the research base that will lead to a significant positive change in Scotland’s already good economic performance.

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University Innovation Fund Review

The review is supported by SFC’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee’s (RKEC) UIF Review Group. The review will assess progress against the original aims of the UIF approach and provide recommendations for improvement and enhancement. The Review Group was chaired by former SFC Board member, Douglas Mundie with membership from SFC’s RKEC and other partner organisations.

Note: As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak our planned consultation on the UIF has been paused until further notice.

Further information about the review.

UIF Outcomes 2017-20

Seven outcomes were identified as areas where, over academic year 2017-20, universities would  demonstrate progress. These outcomes were:

Outcome one (demand stimulation): working with Scotland’s Enterprise Agencies (EAs), Scottish Government, business networks, Interface, and others, Scottish HEIs will have helped to increase the demand and quality of engagement from businesses and the public sector for university services.

Outcome two (simplification/commercialisation): in partnership with the EAs and Interface, Scottish HEIs as a sector will have demonstrably simplified business access to the knowledge and expertise in Scottish universities.

Outcome three (simplification/greater innovation): in partnership with the EAs and Interface, Scottish HEIs will, at a national level, have made strategic use of their sectoral knowledge to promote greater innovation in the economy (including beyond STEM).

Outcome four (entrepreneurialism): Scottish HEIs as a sector will have made a significant and positive change in the way entrepreneurial opportunities are promoted and delivered to students, HEI staff, and businesses.

Outcome five (international): in partnership with Scottish Development International, Connected Scotland and others, Scottish HEIs will have pooled their knowledge and networks, and shared good practice to promote and engage Scotland internationally (operating under Scotland’s International Framework).

Outcome six (inclusive growth and social impact): building on current and good practice, Scottish HEIs will have scaled up their support of the Scottish Government’s ambitions for inclusive growth.

Outcome seven (equality and diversity): building on current and good practice, HEIs will have ensured positive promotion of equality and diversity in staff and all who are affected by the use of the UIF.

These outcomes are aligned with the Scottish Government’s economic strategy, Universities Scotland 5 point action plan and the Scottish Government’s ‘Innovation Plan’ published in January 2017.

Further information is available at Funding for Universities