Created in recognition of the key contribution of small businesses to the contemporary economy The Research and Knowledge Exchange (RAKE) fund has the aim to support the exploration of issues, challenges and opportunities surrounding entrepreneurial activities and small firm performance within the UK economy.
The fund’s broad remit hopes to encourage the widest range of innovative applications, and research which is relevant to both the development of policy and practice. Bids developed co-operatively between institutions, such as universities and third sector organisations, will be welcomed as would those led by early stage researchers working in collaboration with more experienced colleagues.
The RAKE Fund reaches out to a broad community of practice including university researchers, those working in the support and advice sector, those in voluntary organisations and private consultants. A call for funding will be announced shortly which will invite applications from interested parties.
Successful RAKE applicants will be:
• Required to be ISBE members
• Asked to present their work at the annual conference
• Offered opportunities to use ISBE networks for publishing opportunities
• Asked to contribute to research workshops hosted by BERR
• Subject to a degree of monitoring from the fund managers.
The fund aims to support three or four projects per annum with bids of around £8000 to £12000.
Speaking at the announcement of the new RAKE fund, ISBE’s President, Dr Colette Henry, highlighted the strategic significance of the fund and welcomed the opportunity for ISBE to partner with Barclays, ESRC and BERR to encourage high calibre entrepreneurship research.
Professor Susan Marlow, ISBE Director commented: “This is a new, exciting and innovative funding collaboration which seeks to support research of the highest quality with demonstrable impact.”
Information and applications relating to the RAKE fund will be available from www.isbe.org.uk