The University of Stirling has received a significant boost to its research and innovation efforts with a successful bid for seed funding under the UK’s multi-million-pound Levelling Up programme. This £50,000 fund will enable the University’s Faculty of Social Sciences to build local partnerships and advance a key research agenda aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth across the UK.
This initiative forms the first phase of the Local Policy Innovation Partnerships (LPIP), a new programme designed to tackle regional inequalities and promote inclusive economic growth. The Stirling LPIP, a partnership between the University, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and Scottish Water, will focus on optimising water resources in the Forth Water Basin, which spans seven of Scotland’s local authorities.
Professor Richard Simmons, Senior Lecturer in Social and Public Policy at the University of Stirling, said:
“This seed funding enables us to build vital local partnerships that will help enhance the management of water resources, while also fostering community resilience, sustainability, and inclusivity. The health of our communities and natural environment are closely connected, and this project is about ensuring that water resources are managed with the wellbeing of all stakeholders in mind.”
The Stirling LPIP is one of several partnerships nationwide receiving support from the £23 million programme, funded by UK Research and Innovation, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and Innovate UK. As part of the programme, local partnerships will work on real-world solutions to regional challenges, ensuring the UK’s research and innovation strengths are harnessed to drive local economic growth and reduce disparities across regions.
