About the Fund

Purpose of the Call

The MInDS (Mathematical Innovators in the Digital Space) Flexible Fund (FF), available for the period 2025-2029, supports the expansion of the UK’s Innovation Research Associate (InRA) community more widely throughout the UK. This funding stream is now open for applications to support university mathematical sciences departments to develop their InRA capacity.

InRAs are a new category of Research Technology Professionals (RTPs) specialising in knowledge exchange and research impact in the mathematical sciences. The InRA role harnesses the potential of PhD graduates by positioning them in a dynamic capacity focused on translating mathematically oriented research into tangible societal and industrial impacts. While rooted in Mathematical Sciences, the InRA role has far-reaching benefits across other disciplines. InRAs collaborate on solving complex challenges, enhancing research outcomes through cross-disciplinary work. InRAs typically dedicate approximately 50% of their time to short- term, externally funded projects that have immediate, high-impact outcomes. The remaining portion of their time is committed to business development activities and longer-term research that underpins sustained advancements. In particular, successful InRA delivery is principally measured by their contribution to cultivating and supporting pathways to impact.

The InRA RTP provides the ability for mathematical science departments to respond with agility to emerging opportunities, broadening access to funding and facilitating rapid project initiation. InRAs enrich academic leadership, and position universities better to contribute to national innovation goals. Based on a model that has been implemented at a number of UK universities, experience shows that the creation of an initial InRA role quickly unlocks a flow of opportunities and funding which can lead to the creation of a permanent self-funded team of impact-generating staff. Part of the vision of MInDS is, therefore, to help build the national community of InRAs needed to drive future UK innovation, both in universities where InRAs currently exist, but also with particular emphasis on supporting the formation of new teams throughout the UK.

We invite university mathematical sciences departments to apply for funding from MInDS to

• initiate the creation of InRA positions that strengthen the growth of the nationwide InRA network;

and/or

• host events that support the growth of the InRA network across the UK.

Applicants can apply at any time; funding decisions will be made on a quarterly basis by the Flexible Fund Panel – a committee of stakeholders from across the Mathematical Sciences. 

Funding Streams Available

Institutions may apply for one or more of the following funding streams:

InRA Support Fund: The MInDS funding will provide 6 – 12 months of InRA funding (salary only, up to £5k per month), which must be matched at least 1:1 by funding from the host institution and/or from external partners. A 24-month minimum contract must be offered to the InRA. Proposals must involve a project involving a non-academic partner and demonstrate clear pathways to impact.  A total budget of £830K is available over the four-year lifetime of the MInDS grant.

Annual Congress (Jamboree) and training/continuing professional development activities: There is a budget for an Annual InRA Congress (Jamboree) of up to £14,400 in 2026 and up to £20,000 for 2027 and 2028. There is also a separate total annual budget of £10k available to support institutions in the hosting of regional or national training/CPD events focused on stakeholder engagement, grant writing, EDI, RRI, consulting, and other relevant skills. This budget is available to support travel, accommodation, and subsistence costs for InRAs attending these in-person events.

Please note that funding applications should not include merchandise, and that any dates for your proposed training or event are subject to negotiation and approval from the MInDS management team. Please check our events calendar and other relevant websites (e.g. KE Hub) to avoid dates on which events have already been organised.

Networking Events: A total annual budget of £5k is available to contribute towards travel, accommodation, and subsistence for in-person networking days.

Stakeholder Engagement Sandpits: Support for community-led problem-formulation events aligned with non-academic challenges. A total annual budget of £15k per year is available with a delayed start from 2026.

Follow-Through Engagement: Funds to sustain or grow projects initiated through MInDS or other national collaborative activities. A total annual budget of £5k is available.

Information about how to apply for these streams can be found here.