Knowledge Exchange UK strategic partner Innovation Growth Lab is inviting applications for its fully funded Impact Accelerator, supporting teams to strengthen the design, testing and evaluation of knowledge exchange and research commercialisation programmes.
Part of Innovation Growth Lab’s Research to Impact (R2I) Lab, the Impact Accelerator is designed for teams developing or delivering programmes that support knowledge exchange and research commercialisation. It helps participants embed experimentation into their work and take a more agile, systematic and evidence-informed approach to evaluation.
Through a combination of expert workshops and tailored one-to-one support, participating teams will develop a theory of change and success metrics for their programme, explore the most appropriate ways to test their approach, and build their capability to use experimental and other evaluation methods.
The programme can support a wide range of knowledge exchange initiatives, from entrepreneurial training for researchers and new approaches to industry collaboration, to investment readiness, funding programmes and the use of AI tools in knowledge exchange. It can also support entirely new approaches where teams need to establish the best way to test what works.
Who can apply?
The Accelerator is open to teams designing or delivering programmes that support knowledge exchange and research commercialisation, including:
- Technology transfer offices
- University knowledge exchange teams
- Business engagement teams
- Innovation and funding agencies
- Accelerators and venture builders
- Other organisations working where research meets impact.
Programmes can cover any form of knowledge exchange, both formal and informal, and applications are welcomed from organisations around the world. Partnerships can also apply as one team, with the programme working best when two to three people from each participating organisation or partnership take part.
What does the programme include?
The Accelerator combines six expert workshops with five one-to-one support sessions, alongside opportunities to learn with an international cohort and share progress and best practice. Sessions cover programme design, theory of change, evaluation and experimental design, outcome measures, implementation and analysis.
The programme runs online from 11 November 2026 to 10 February 2027. Workshops take place from 14:00 to 16:00 UK time, with office-hour slots released closer to each date.
A fully funded opportunity
Supported by Coefficient Giving, this edition of the Accelerator is fully funded and available at no cost to participating teams. Places are limited and applications are being accepted on a rolling basis until Friday 30 October 2026.
Applications are now open for the November 2026 cohort. Apply for the Impact Accelerator or read the programme FAQs.
Read more about the programme: R2I Lab Impact Accelerator_2026