Stage One involved the establishment of five networks of researchers and policy makers to  survey existing research and identify gaps in the current state of knowledge. 

The reports from all five networks are available below

Final Report of the HERE network: ( Centre for Public Policy for Regions   a  joint research institute of the Universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow, Scotland)

Final Report of the UNITE network : University Knowledge Into Enterprise ( Aston Business School, Queen's University Belfast, Cardiff University and the University of Edinburgh)

HEIs and Local Communities: Forward and Backward Linkages University of Liverpool

The Embedded University in the 'Science Economy': Capacities, Contexts and Expectations (The SURF Centre, University of Salford, IPP/CURDS, University of Newcastle and PREST/CRIC University of Manchester)

Higher education's effects on disadvantaged groups and communities ESRC Network Report (Open University)

For further information on Stage one of the initiative please see the ERSC Discussion Forum on HEI Impacts