For the past year, a consortium from Bath has been part of the National Civic Impact Accelerator, an ambitious three-year programme aimed at increasing the connectivity, momentum, and effectiveness of the HE sector’s civic activities for local societal, economic, and environmental benefit and maximising the contribution universities can make towards addressing societal challenges and responding to policy priorities
A team of colleagues from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University, working in collaboration with Bath and North East Somerset Council, have been taking part in a number of themed action learning projects, where civic challenges are shared with other consortiums from across the country and new ideas are generated, applied and tested.
As a result of the first phase of the work, we are now preparing here in Bath to host a delegation from York University and York Civic Trust to explore the potential of setting up a Heritage Cities Network through which we can work together to overcome the challenges related to achieving net zero in a World Heritage City.
Another outcome from phase one of the project has been a greater understanding of how to ensure Impact Acceleration and Knowledge Exchange projects work with external partners in an equitable way and how to work between two universities with often the same partners in a small city without overburdening specific local groups.
Going into phase two of the National Impact Accelerator Project, the Bath consortium has been given the opportunity to bid for a small pot of funding to support work mapping the innovation ecosystem - so the support and networks available to innovators and entrepreneurs - across Banes. This work would support our efforts to create an Inclusive Innovation ecosystem in Bath through the Future Ambition Board (for more information see here), and will also generate knowledge that will support cities and universities across the country in better understanding the opportunities and challenges related to achieving a culture of inclusive innovation.
We will continue to share our insights from this project here on our blog so do look out for updates!
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