A new pilot small-grants scheme will fund short, high-impact collaborations between RSA members at higher education institutions and the charities, local authorities, and community groups that stand to benefit most from academic expertise.
The Regional Studies Association is pleased to introduce the Knowledge and Policy Exchange Grant (KPEG), a pilot initiative designed to close the gap between research and real-world impact. The scheme provides Individual and Early Career RSA members, based at recognised higher education institutions, with the financial means to engage directly with non-academic organisations on projects that deliver tangible, practical benefits. Engagement projects may involve both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations, provided the collaboration centres on producing meaningful knowledge and policy exchange outcomes.
Awards of up to £2,500 will support projects lasting between three and twelve months. Whether the proposed partner is a charity working on place-based inequality, a local authority grappling with planning decisions, a community group seeking evidence-based guidance, or a national policy body, KPEG is designed to facilitate those exchanges.
The pilot will run two application rounds in 2026, opening in May and October, with a total fund of £15,000 across the year. In subsequent years, rounds are expected to open in February and July. Applications are assessed in the order they are received, so early submission is encouraged.
Full details, including the application form and supporting documents, are available here. Questions about eligibility or the scheme more broadly should be directed to the RSA office.