The University of Westminster has launched the Interdisciplinary Innovation Fund (IIF) to support research projects that cover multiple subject areas and which therefore have great potential to contribute to solutions to real-life problems. The IIF will support both Westminster research and collaborative projects with other universities and organisations.
The IIF aims to encourage major funding bids for interdisciplinary research relevant to one or more of Westminster’s research communities, which bring together and build upon the work of the University’s many existing research groups and centres. The four communities are Arts, Communication and Culture; Diversity and Inclusion; Health Innovation and Wellbeing; and Sustainable Cities and the Urban Environment.
The funding will support researchers working together from across Westminster and beyond, helping these interdisciplinary teams grow and develop strong applications for major grants that address key challenges and issues.
Applicants can request up to £3,000 to be used for activities such as running workshops, targeted research or holding writing retreats to strengthen the bid. The Fund will help the University achieve its Research and Knowledge Exchange strategic objective of finding solutions to make a difference for communities and the world.
About the IIF Dr Tom Cohen, Reader in Transport Policy and Lead for the Sustainable Cities and the Urban Environment Research Community, said: “A central goal of the Research Communities is to promote interdisciplinarity at Westminster. A great way of doing that is by providing our colleagues with a bit of practical support in building interdisciplinary teams and going after grants to fund their research plans. The Fund has been understandably popular, and we’ve had to close it to new applications for now, but we hope to be back soon with another call.
The IIF directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about research at the University of Westminster.
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