In this guest blog, Dr Kirsty Collinge, Head of Research Strategy, Edinburgh Research Office and Amy Rafferty, Director of Communications & Marketing, Edinburgh Innovations discuss the University of Edinburgh Innovation Career Path.
The University of Edinburgh has launched a bold initiative to reshape academic career pathways by embedding innovation as a core component of researcher development. This strategic move recognises that innovation is not just a by-product of research, it is a powerful form of impact in its own right.
The Rationale
To significantly increase innovation outputs, institutions must support and grow the academic cohort engaged in commercialisation, industry partnerships, and entrepreneurial activity. This initiative addresses a long-standing gap: the lack of structured support and recognition for researchers pursuing innovation as a career path.
The Innovation Career Pathway
The initiative is structured around three key workstreams:
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Attracting Innovation Talent
- Development of compelling job adverts and a job description matrix tailored to attract innovation-active researchers
- Recruitment of a pilot cohort of Innovation Fellows, funded through strategic investment, to support early-career researchers in commercialising PhD research
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Recognition and Reward
- Introduction of a new academic promotions profile: External Engagement with Innovation and Impact
- Clear criteria and examples to support promotion based on innovation activities
- Training for promotion panels to ensure understanding of innovation contributions
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Learning and Development
- Launch of a comprehensive Innovation Competency Framework with five capability levels and ten core competencies
- Creation of an Innovation Careers Hub: a centralised, accessible platform offering training, funding opportunities, and inspirational profiles
- Mapping of learning opportunities across the university to support innovation capability development
A Cultural Shift
This initiative is more than a set of resources; it represents a cultural shift. By decoupling innovation capability from academic grade and using plain, accessible language, the framework opens doors for researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.
Pilot programmes are now underway in two STEM-focussed Schools, with plans to expand into Arts and Humanities shortly after. Each pilot is tailored to the specific needs and maturity of innovation within the discipline, ensuring relevance and impact.
Early Impact
Since its launch, the Innovation Careers Hub has attracted over 1,000 unique visitors, with strong engagement and positive feedback. The initiative has also gained attention across the sector, with features in Times Higher Education and growing international interest.
Explore the Hub
The Innovation Careers Hub serves as a one-stop destination for researchers exploring innovation as a career path. It includes:
- The full competency framework
- Learning and development resources
- Recruitment guidance
- Innovation Fellowship opportunities
- Profiles of innovation-active researchers across disciplines and career stages
This initiative marks a significant step toward achieving parity between research and innovation in academic career development.
(Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay)
(Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay)
