1. RESEARCH FORUM 21 st January 2009 RESEARCH COUNCIL UPDATES RESEARCH OFFICE DEVELOPMENTS http://www.dur.ac.uk/research.office/ research.grants@durham.ac.uk VAN MILDERT COLLEGE

2. Research Councils ARTS & HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL Joint Research Programme (JRP) (announced 14 th January 2009) Up to one million Euros funding for collaborative research projects. Organised by HERA, facilitated in UK through AHRC, to enable trans- national Collaborative Research Projects in two humanities research areas: “Cultural dynamics: Inheritance and identity” “Humanities as a Source of Creativity and Innovation” “Cultural dynamics: Inheritance and identity” “Humanities as a Source of Creativity and Innovation” Briefings on Jan 29 th (London) and Jan 30 th Glasgow (30th) on how best to put an application together. Register at:hera@ahrc.ac.uk Outline proposals 7 th April, full proposals invited May 2009 Research Leave Research Leave September 2008 round cancelled, next round deadline 5 th March Announcement expected end January on ‘new fellowship scheme’ likely to replace research leave

3. Research Councils BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL Changes to funding arrangements now in place and published on web Peer review, committee changes and priorities highlighted, four new “Research Committees”, applications can be submitted at any time Longer and larger grants scheme under review (date for outlines summer 2009) http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/grants/roadshows.html £4M Transatlantic Ageing research programme announced (Dec 2008) BBSRC and US National Institute on Aging ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL Future Calls for Proposals http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchFunding/Opportunities/FutureCalls.htm. Energy Communities (with NERC and ESRC) (March), Carbon Capture & Storage (April), Towards Next Generation Healthcare (June), Postdoctoral Fellowships (June), Leadership Fellowships (June- July), Innovation and Knowledge Centres (Nov), Flashlight Funding (June 2010)

4. Research Councils ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL (cont) Signposting Highlight priority research areas in responsive mode Engineering: synthetic biology, water engineering; ICT: microelectronic design and silicon technology; Physics: physics/life science interface; Nanoscience: nanometrology, nanotoxicology Engineering: synthetic biology, water engineering; ICT: microelectronic design and silicon technology; Physics: physics/life science interface; Nanoscience: nanometrology, nanotoxicology IDEAS Factory and Sandpits New ways to generate research projects with annual call for IDEAS topics. Sandpit interactive workshop with multidisciplinary mix of participants. Calls for sandpits published on website e.g. Detecting Terrorist Activities (DTAct) (CPNI, HO, ESRC): Deadline: 12 th February Study Days at EPSRC (Swindon 26 January, 23 April, 16 July, 22 October) Overview of EPSRC, introduction to peer review, involve presentations, mock panels, public engagement exercise parallel sessions on specific topics including proposal writing tips, delivery plan, exploitation, fellowships, international and doctoral training presentations, mock panels, public engagement exercise parallel sessions on specific topics including proposal writing tips, delivery plan, exploitation, fellowships, international and doctoral training Research Office scheduling EPSRC Study Day in Durham at start of July

5. Research Councils ECONOMIC & SOCIAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Annual Competitions Large Grants (July), First Grants (October), Professorial Fellowships (closing date 12 th February), Research Seminars (October), Research Centres (June) Energy and Communities Scoping Workshop (Deadline: 9 th February) Cross disciplinary event (EPSRC and NERC) 3 rd March Birmingham to identify potential for call in this area Technological, environmental and social aspects and need to reduce consumption ESRC Placement Fellows Scheme ESRC Placement Fellows Scheme Allows researchers to spend time in organisation to undertake policy- relevant research and upgrade skills of “partner organisation” employees Knowledge transfer

6. Research Councils MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Skills Gap Awards New scheme provides fast track start up funding for appointments relevant to biomedical or biotechnology research addressing important skills’ needs in Universities (MRC, EPSRC, BBSRC) Deadline 30 th April (http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Fundingopportunities/Initiatives/SGA/index.htm) Two-way Academic-Industry Exchanges Details of permanent, strengthened support to be announced Spring Panel Member Recruitment (Deadline 23 rd January) NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL Responsive Research Grants (closing dates) New Investigator (Feb), Standard Grants (July, Dec), Consortium Grants (July, Dec), Partnership Research Grants (July, Dec), Small Grants (Sept)

7. Research Councils NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL (cont) Joint Climate Research Programme Launch (Met Office) Programme vision and need for scientific advances: 17 th March Thematic Programme Leader Visits Contacts made in 2008 will now be taken forward with research areas SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL Research Grants Grant round deadlines: http://wwwstfc.ac.uk/Grants/ResGR/clsdate.aspx Consultation on Strategy Public consultation on future direction of STFC will inform future spending and prioritisation decisions. Research Office co-ordinating response. Current Recruitment of Knowledge Exchange Relationship Managers

8. Technology Strategy Board Business led- executive, non-departmental public body Funded by Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Collaborative Research & Development Competitions (Funding) Energy generation and supply Energy generation and supply -Maximising Recovery of UK’s Oil and Gas Resources (Briefing Day 5 th February) - Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Technologies (Briefing Day 1 st April) Low carbon vehicles: innovation (Briefing Day 3 rd February) to be updated Low carbon vehicles: innovation (Briefing Day 3 rd February) to be updated Emerging technologies and industries (final strategy to be published Spring) Emerging technologies and industries (final strategy to be published Spring) Knowledge Transfer Networks Networks of business, Universities and research organisations to speed up innovation Energy generation and supply (Event Date:10 th February) Energy generation and supply (Event Date:10 th February) Innovate ’09: 13 th October 2009

9. Research Office Research Office STRUCTURE & SERVICES Under development Research Costing Working Group established Review of policy, procedures, processes and reporting REF requirements and systems CONSULTATION Feedback from Faculties to be prioritised within RO resources and taken forward Opportunities calendar, multi-disciplinary proposals, Faculty briefing meetings, training, web development, handbook etc. Opportunities calendar, multi-disciplinary proposals, Faculty briefing meetings, training, web development, handbook etc. WEB PAGES DEVELOPMENT New additions Events: Research Forum, sponsor visits, research events, visits etc Events: Research Forum, sponsor visits, research events, visits etc News News Review of web (with Marketing)

10. Research Office Research Office SPONSOR ENGAGEMENT European Science Foundation (29 th Jan), UKRO (3 rd Feb), Nuffield Foundation (26 th Feb), EPSRC Study Day (early July), NERC (tbc), Leverhulme Trust (proposed) Database of strategic academic links with major research sponsors FUNDING DATABASES ResearchResearch.com: funding opportunities alert service for researchers Community of Science: http://fundingopps.cos.com/ RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION NETWORKS External Full engagement in Professionalising Research Administration project (HEFCE) Full engagement in Professionalising Research Administration project (HEFCE) Brunswick Brunswick ARMA ARMA Internal e.g. Research Forum, Administrator Network