Applications are now open for the Cultural Institute's annual Ignite programme

offering researchers at the University of Leeds up to £2,000 to develop an interdisciplinary partnership project.

The Cultural Institute's annual Ignite programme was established in 2012 to encourage researchers to develop projects that built relationships between the University and external organisations, in order to support engaging, relevant and impact-led research. Since then, they have provided funding to over 120 individuals to connect with hundreds of organisations, resulting in a broad range of larger research partnerships.
The CI support projects that provide mutual benefits for both researchers and partners, and successful projects will create opportunities to explore ideas and areas for development, to work with external partners to improve the quality of our research, and demonstrate how they can form the basis of a longer term project plan or programme of activity.

The short-term funding supports projects that aim to:

· develop research impact by building an effective working relationship between the University and external (non-HEI) organisation(s);

· form the basis of a longer term project plan or programme of activity that could attract further funding;

· provide value for money.

Researchers from any faculty at the University of Leeds can apply for funding to work with a non-HEI partner from any sector or discipline, though the project itself must have a cultural element.

The deadline for applications is 19 November 2018, and projects must be completed by July 2019.

View examples of successful past applications

Download guidance and application form

In 2017, the Cultural Institute awarded over £20,000 of funding to researchers through Ignite. Eleven projects secured grants between £500 and £2,000 to develop a partnership project which will advance research impact and explore ideas and areas for development. See the full list of funded projects