A partnership of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and the Local Authority Research Council Initiative (LARCI - supported in Scotland by the Scottish Government) are holding a competition to commission five projects, lasting up to 12 months, to enhance knowledge exchange between Scottish-based academic researchers and local authorities in Scotland.
The aim of the knowledge exchange i.e. the two-way flows of people, knowledge and ideas between universities and local authorities and their partners, is to strengthen the evidence base for the improvement of operational and management practices within local authority organisations and the enhancement of their analytical skills and capacity. Knowledge exchange is also important to improving the quality of research undertaken by the academic community.
The call is open to researchers based in Scottish Higher Education Institutions. Applications should be made by a single lead institution although proposals are welcomed which involve multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional project teams in recognition of the focus on wide-ranging and cross cutting local authority priority themes. All applications must have at least one local authority partner. Proposals which have multiple local authority partners are particularly encouraged.
Further information on how to apply is available from the ESRC and the closing date is 29 January 2009
