The Benefits Realisations (BR) activities sought to ensure the benefits i.e. outputs and outcomes of the Users and Innovations (U&I) projects went beyond those originally funded.

The U&I programme adopted a two-stage approach which involved initially encouraging knowledge transfer, validation of outputs and take-up within other institutions. This was followed by Widening Stakeholder Engagement (WSE), using existing groups to feed outputs to their stakeholders.

The Benefits Realisation activities comprised small projects that were ‘project-anchored, community-led’, i.e. they are anchored in a current project and led by one or more members of the Emerge online community or in the case of the Widening Stakeholder Engagement projects, led by an external stakeholder e.g. Subject Centre.

The three invitations for Benefits Realisation funding were issued in September 07, April 08 and July 08. An additional invitation to work with wider stakeholder communities (WSE) was issued in July 2008 for projects to start in August/September 2008 along with an invitation for Emerging Issues Studies (ES).

The Benefits Realisation activities included several within the Emerge project, for example the Emerge Bazaar within the Emerge Second Life Island, the Emerging Mondays Sounds of the Bazaar radio broadcasts, Dragons Den activities and communications products.

A total of 18 Benefits Realisation projects were funded (up to £15k each). Of these, nine were project-led and nine were community-led. Widening Stakeholder Engagement funded five projects (£40k each) looking at take-up and capacity building within subject areas (five projects) and Centers of Excellence in Learning and Teaching (one project). Four Emerging Issues Studies projects were funded.