The Place Based Impact Acceleration Account (PBIAA) scheme was launched by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in October 2022, with the pilot rounds concluding in 2029. The PBIAA scheme aims to align engineering and physical sciences research with place-based thematic clusters to drive local economic growth and innovation. This place-based approach is a departure from traditional EPSRC funding models and is designed to foster collaboration among universities, civic organisations and businesses, enhancing the relevance and impact of research in defined places.
Through the PBIAA scheme pilot, EPSRC has invested over £63 million across 17 consortia, distributed via two funding rounds. Prospective PBIAAs could apply for one of two funding streams. The first was for ‘emerging’ clusters, with up to £2.5 million available. The second was for ‘established’ clusters, with up to £5 million available. Applicants self-selected the stream most applicable based on their own assessment of the maturity of the pre-existing network of industry, academic and civic partners in the area.
Funded PBIAAs span a wide range of industry sectors, including net zero energy, biotechnology, digital healthcare and cybersecurity, and are distributed across the UK, including Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and various regions of England.
Fortia Insight (formerly part of RSM UK Consulting LLP) was commissioned by EPSRC to undertake an early stage review of the PBIAA scheme. Using findings from 35 qualitative interviews with funded PBIAA consortia members, two interviews with EPSRC, 93 responses to the baseline survey and ten case studies, we explored the following review objectives:
1. Provide a framework for EPSRC to conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation through the lifetime of the PBIAA scheme (due to conclude in 2029)
2. Capture information and examples about early outcomes and success indicators from the funded PBIAAs
3. Examine information about how the PBIAAs came together, how they deliver on their stated objectives and EPSRC’s role in facilitating them
4. Understand the benefits (and potential risks) of a place-based approach to research and innovation
5. Generate case studies that capture emerging success stories of the PBIAAs
Report LinkChallenges
- Realist evaluation: Place-based initiatives such as the PBIAA scheme need a more complex evaluation approach than that required by other programmes that do not have this dimension. To deliver an evaluation that a) recognises the starting point for each area involved, b) builds in open exchanges and joint learning with key stakeholders at each stage and c) identifies not only the outcomes and early impacts being achieved but also the causal pathways that underpin these, we used a realist-theory-based evaluation approach, underpinned by developmental evaluation (DE) principles.
- Setting up a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework to guide EPSRC’s future M&E: This early stage review is accompanied by a recommended M&E framework. The recommended M&E framework details the short-term outcomes, long-term outcomes and impacts from the ToC along with possible indicators and metrics that could be used to evaluate the impact of the PBIAA scheme. The framework was used to inform the design of the research tools used in this early stage review. Using the findings from this report, the M&E framework was updated to provide EPSRC with recommendations to continue monitoring and evaluating the PBIAA scheme. This guide will be used by EPSRC to inform its monitoring and evaluation up to the conclusion of the PBIAA scheme in 2029.
- Evaluating in real time: Round 1 PBIAAs started delivery 12 months prior to the data collection conducted in this review. As the PBIAA scheme rounds last four years, the PBIAAs were still in their early stages of delivery during this review. Therefore, this review used emerging findings to give recommendations split by those relevant to the delivery of existing PBIAAs and for future rounds of PBIAA or wider investments by EPSRC.
Impacts
The early stage review used the ‘reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, maintenance’ (RE-AIM) framework to present findings, as detailed below.
- Reach: The PBIAA scheme has effectively enabled broad-based partnerships spanning academia, industry and civic organisations. Established clusters capitalised on existing networks to rapidly form consortia and initiate project delivery. Civic engagement was strengthened through collaboration with local authorities, business alliances and regional development bodies, aligning PBIAA goals with broader economic strategies and enhancing stakeholder participation.
- Effectiveness: The place-based strategy has successfully encouraged consortia to tackle regional priorities and foster collaborative delivery. Several PBIAAs reported early wins through stakeholder engagement, targeted calls for proposals and capacity-building activities.
- Adoption: PBIAAs supported a wide spectrum of technical initiatives and inclusive stakeholder engagement. Consortia employed launch events, workshops and webinars to spark interest and nurture new partnerships. Early career researchers gained exposure by presenting work and building connections with civic and industry actors.
- Implementation: The PBIAA model promoted integrated collaboration across academic, civic and industry partners. Governance structures – such as advisory boards – were introduced to align activities with regional priorities and ensure cross-sector representation.
- Maintenance: Long-term sustainability and durable partnerships are core objectives of the PBIAAs. Although too early for definitive assessments, initial efforts suggest foundations for future resilience are being laid. These include strategic engagement, skills development and links with other funders to establish ongoing financial support.