Ignite Fund
Ignite was established in 2012 to encourage researchers to develop projects that build new or early relationships between the University and external organisations, leading to engaging, relevant, and impact-led research with mutual benefits.
Since then, the fund has provided support to over 120 individuals, enabling them to connect with hundreds of organisations and resulting in a broad range of larger research partnerships.
It was brilliant to be surrounded by experts and people passionate about the circular economy. I was sat with academics, and it was good to hear their thoughts on the theoretical concepts behind the more practical aspects.
Benefits of the Ignite Fund
The Ignite Fund supports projects that provide mutually benefcial opportunities and outcomes for researchers and partners, such as:
- Exploring new ideas and areas for development.
- Improving the quality of research through external partnerships.
- Forming longer-term project plans or programmes of activity.
- Nurturing ongoing collaborations beyond initial projects.
- Generating new research outcomes and knowledge exchange.
- Develop new strands of research and practice.
For example, the 2024-2025 projects funded by Ignite include a diverse range of cultural research partnerships. These projects aim to address various societal challenges and engage the public in innovative ways. One project focuses on exploring the impact of climate change on local communities through interactive art installations, while another investigates the role of digital technology in preserving cultural heritage.
The 2023-2024 cohort of artist grantees included projects that centred on visual arts, promoted collaboration, raised awareness around social justice issues, engaged local communities, and incorporated accessibility services in public presentations.
The 2020 projects supported by the Ignite Fund included initiatives that addressed social issues such as empowering families, youth resilience, and harnessing music to impact communities. These projects provided training and support to parents and guardians, facilitated emotional resilience training for teenage girls, and used music as a means to enhance wellbeing and promote social inclusion.
Applications to apply to the Ignite Fund open during the first term.