HEFCE has confirmed details of the £40 million per annum HEIF 'uplift' announced as part of the government's R&D investment to support its industrial strategy. Details of additional allocations has been sent to Vice-Chancellors, noting that "the Government has provided...additional funding for HEIF, to support and incentivise high and improving performance in knowledge exchange. The £40 million must be used by HEIs to deliver the objectives of the Government’s Industrial Strategy as this is the reason for the balanced funding uplift." Notably four new institutions join the list of those in receipt of HEIF: University of Winchester, Royal Northern College of Music, The Royal Agricultural University and University of West London.
PraxisUnico/AURIL members have long called for a permanent increase in HEIF as a uniquely flexible method of funding the wide diversity of KEC activities found across HEIs in England creating proven economic and social impact. We strongly advocate that this type of funding be avialable across the UK: with policy focusing on stimulating collaboration between universities it is important that there is sufficient resource for engagement across the UK and the capacity for sharing good practice.
Full details of the announcement and institutional allocations can be found on the HEFCE website.