Research Funding Seminar Series: 1. The Research Funding Landscape Sarah Lee Research Support Office (RSO)

The Research Process  Scholarship: Maintaining the intellectual infrastructure of disciplines  Research: A process of investigation leading to new insights effectively shared (disseminated)  Impact: The benefit that derives from research

Really….

Research Funding Landscape

Research Funding Landscape (2)  Several sources of funding may cover more than one of these activities  More than one pot of funding is likely to be required to translate your initial research findings into measurable/tangible impacts  Many funders expect you to demonstrate your “pathways to impact” as part of the initial funding application  These pathways should inform but not completely define your research agenda; you need to retain the agility to follow new and exciting opportunities when they occur

The Innovation System

Main Research Funders  The 7 UK Research Councils  AHRC, BBSRC, EPSRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, STFC  Charities  peer review and philanthropic  UK Government  Innovate UK, NIHR, DEFRA, MoD, DECC, BIS  EU  H2020, Marie Curie (correct name); ERC  International Sources  Eg NIH, Scandinavian Research Councils….  Learned Societies  Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, British Academy, Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of GB (?) any others?  Sponsorship from Business/ consultancy  What have I forgotten? OPF; travel grants conference grants etc.

Context  It is always better to match the idea to the right source of funding than the other way round  Aston pays for specialist advice on this subject– make use of it  Don’t give up on an idea because it didn’t get funded the first time, work with your RDM to revise, refine and resubmit if you can  Research needs to be strategically planned in advance  Funding rates are low – so keep trying  Strive for excellence in all that you do

The Research Landscape

University Research covers the full spectrum of the TRLs “The Valley of Death” TRL0 TRL9

How does this relate to funding?

Funders: UK Govt (1) Research Councils and Innovate UK (the TSB)  Research Councils fund fundamental research in their disciplines  Prefer cross-institutional applications  Tend to include non-academic partners but not always essential (EPSRC: 70% of submitted applications include a non-academic partner, 20% of funded applications do)  Can apply at any time to do anything  In addition, calls are released for ideas in specific areas – often with tight deadlines  Driven by cademic curiosity  Innovate UK support industry to innovate  Universities can be included in applications for a limited amount of the budget  Projects must be industry driven  Driven by business need

UK Government Funding (2) Health  NIHR  research arm of the NHS  Exists to save the NHS money in the long term  Operates across virtually all the TRLs with different funding strands  Significant (and time-consuming) questions as standard on the application form e.g around IP and Ethics  The Research Design Service is part of the NIHR and supports applications to it  Confusingly, both the DfH and the NHS also fund health research separately from the NIHR but these budgets tend to be smaller

UK Government Funding (3) Defence  A large, often overlooked, potential source of funding  Quite flexible in terms of what you can do – interested in more subjects than you would initially think  BUT – the money comes with strings.  you may not be able to publish and/or you may loose the rights to your IP  think seriously about the potential ramifications before applying

UK Government Funding (4) Other Common mechanisms include:  Calls for tenders  Very short deadline for applications  Very specific project requirements  May be secondary research (not REFable for example)  Co-funding via the research councils  usually EPSRC or ESRC  Can be much more applied than standard research council calls  Different panel structure / slightly different emphasis  Direct calls for research applications  These either follow models based on the learned societies or research councils  often difficult because the processes aren't necessarily well embedded  Or are managed by a government-supported agency e.g. the Newton Fund

Learned Societies (1)  Domain specific  British Academy (Humanities and Social Science)  Royal Society (Physical and Life Sciences)  Royal Academy of Engineering (Engineering)  Subject specific  e.g. the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Historical Society…..

Learned Societies (2)  All have a remit (in essence) to maintain and expand the intellectual infrastructure of their disciplines  Tend to look to support specific types of research including:  ECRs  collaborative projects (e.g. with industry, international etc.)  very senior academics  educational projects  infrastructure projects  capacity building (international development)  Formally charities (but often with government support) – tend to be fairly small awards to individuals  But amongst the most prestigious funding available

Charities (1)  ‘peer review’  Charities established with a primary focus to support research and education, often as a mechanism to a greater good  e.g. Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme Trust, Cancer Research UK, AICR, Nuffield Foundation etc.  Are as rigorous in review as the Research Councils/Learned Societies  Investing both in you and in the research project  Some have extremely large budgets

Charities (2)  ‘ Philanthropic’  Charities with an interest in a given subject who see a role for research in addressing their subject, but where it is not the key driver  Investing in you as much as the research  Often necessary to build strong personal links  Once those links are established likely to fund you regularly  Generally small pots of money

Charities (3)  A charity’s role and remit is defined within its charitable charter  Different charities fund at different points on the TRL scale:  Some look for fundamental research  Others look to support e.g. the commercialisation of devices which help with a specific medical condition  Others sit in the space in between  If your proposed research is outside the remit of the charity then legally they cannot fund you  Most charities are very open to being asked if you are unsure about this  Limits on what money can be claimed which may influence your research design

EU Funding (1)  Horizon 2020 is key in delivering Europe 2020, Innovation Union and the European Research Area in terms of:  Responding to the economic crisis to invest in future jobs and growth;  Addressing people’s concerns about their livelihoods, safety and environment; and  Strengthening the EU’s global position in research, innovation & technology.

EU Funding (2)  Coupling research to innovation – from research to retail, all forms of innovation  Focus on societal challenges facing EU society, e.g., health, clean energy and transport  Simplified access, for all companies, universities, institutes in all EU countries and beyond  Horizon 2020 overview  Excellent Science  Industrial Leadership  Societal Challenges

EU Funding (3)

EU Funding (4)

Other International  Various international research funders welcome applications from researchers based in the UK e.g.  Scandinavian Research Councils  National Institute of Health (US)  ‘ERAs’ (European Research Areas – pots of money put together by Research Councils from several countries  NB only eligible to apply if the relevant UK Research Council has invested.  However, if Innovate UK has invested, the call is open to UK industry but NOT UK academia  In most cases you will need a partner from that country  Treat these on a case by case basis

Sources of Advice  Talk to you RDM 