Introduction to External Research Funding

1. Introduction to External Research Funding Jacqui Pybus Marie-Claire Micuta

2. What we will cover • Context – related to the vision • Types of funding • How to find funding • Bidding for funding • Quality Control • Research Council funding • EU funding

4. Context • Every school has research and enterprise income targets to achieve. • The University is preparing for submissions to the REF – focus on all aspects of research activity • Budgetary pressures on Schools through changes in funding regimes • Individual career development!

5. Main research funders • Research Councils • Charitable Trusts - Leverhulme, Wellcome • European – FP7 • Government • Lottery • Technology Strategy Board (TSB) • Internal funding (research intranet)

6. Finding funding opportunities • Join the internal funding mailing list. • Research Professional – search or alerts • UKRO (UK Research Office). • European Commission grants page. • Specific, detailed searches by R&E (make sure your research profile is up to date!)

7. Research Professional • University of Huddersfield pays a subscription to Research Professional. • This is an online database with all current research funding opportunities. • One off searches, specific searches, email alerts. http://www.researchprofessional.com

9. UKRO • The UK Research Office (UKRO) is the European office of the UK Research Councils. • UKRO’s mission is to promote effective UK engagement in EU research, innovation, and higher education activities. • The Portal provides detailed information and the latest news on European research funding. • Sign up for alerts specific to your area. http://www.ukro.ac.uk

11. Finding the right funding • Read the guidance/ethos • Don’t scattergun • Pick the best fit • Be realistic about what you want to achieve • Think about developing your track record • Don't get too obsessed with finding research funding – it’s time-consuming!

12. Plan and prepare • Know the timescales and deadlines • Read the guidance thoroughly • Plan ahead - allow time for decision making and contracting • Get your costings done as early as possible • Build in time for slippage and internal processes • Chose partners carefully - consult them, seek support • Address the criteria • Draft, re-draft and be clear • Justify your costings

13. Task Create a simple flowchart for the research bid process

14. Steps to submitting a proposal

15. Quality Control (internal) • Combination of REF and School targets - increase in number and range of proposals submitted by increased number of staff. • Lack of peer review identified as risk factor in UNIAC audit. • Increased competition/volume of proposals - Research Councils imposing demand limitation procedures. • Existing requirement for finance/risk elements to be signed off by the Dean of School before submission. • To be developed to include requirement for School internal peer review/compliance confirmation. • Ensure appropriate support in both academic content AND presentation/eligibility/funder requirements. • Build in time for checks/reviews before submission. • Bids/tenders will NOT be allowed to submit if these elements are not checked.

16. Support/help • Research Director/Cluster leader • R&E • Finance, costings (Denise Ogden, Sarah Green, Sophie Matthewman, Mukhtar Hussain) • Funding opps, bid writing and development (Jacqui Pybus and Marie-Claire Micuta) • KITE – FP7 support (Derek McKenzie) See intranet for full contact details: http://intra2.hud.ac.uk/research/biddingsupport.php

17. Research Council funding • The Research Councils receive public funding through Government’s Science Budget. • This is managed by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. • Each year the Research Councils invest around £3 billion in research covering the full spectrum of academic disciplines: • from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, economics, environmental sciences and the arts and humanities.

18. Research Council funding cont. • The seven Research Councils have common objectives, which are to: • fund basic, strategic and applied research; • support postgraduate training (PhDs and masters students and fellows); • advance knowledge and technology and provide services and trained scientists and engineers to contribute to the economic competitiveness, the effectiveness of public services and policy, and quality of life; • support science in society activities.

19. The Research Councils • Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) • Medical Research Council (MRC) • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) • Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

20. Types of funding • Early career/first grant • Knowledge transfer • Research project grants • Fellowships • Ad-hoc grants e.g. conference, travel, cross-council.

21. How to apply for R C funding • Applications are made to the relevant Research Council, using the Councils Joint Electronic Submission System (Je-S). • Research funding is awarded on a competitive basis, using independent expert peer review. • This system is regarded as an international benchmark of excellence in research funding, and this provides a guarantee of the quality of UK research.

22. Research Councils Proposals • Je-S form - sections • Attachments: • Case for Support • Pathways to Impact • CV • Justification of resources • plus others!

23. Key points • Be realistic • Target – relevance • Make sure the following are clear: • What your research question is • Why is it important • How are your going to answer it • Who will be the final ‘users’ of your research • How are you going to engage with them and disseminate your findings • Success/failure rates • School level Peer Review? • Compliance – technical

24. Peer review • Peer Review is a tried and tested system used by all research councils and other funding bodies. • Independent experts – peers from the same field of work - review proposals to help decide which projects should receive funding. After the research has finished, they assess its value, veracity or outcome. • Peer Review also helps to ensure the research they fund is interesting, important and/or groundbreaking in line with their commitment to funding world-class research. • Peer reviewers are part of the peer review college.

25. AHRC Peer review process

26. ESRC – Revised sifting mechanisms • Tougher sifting will help to control demand, reduce peer review effort and raise quality. Sifting of full applications such as standard grants is expected to involve a number of phases. • First, each HEI will have undertaken some internal quality assurance so that those applications which are submitted have a genuine prospect of at least crossing minimum quality thresholds.   • Second, there will be greater internal sifting by ESRC staff. • Third, there is peer review • Most applications would be assessed by two members.  • More costly, complex applications or those with a strong interdisciplinary focus would be assessed by three members.

27. EPSRC -peer review • EPSRC guarantees that its decision-making process relies on independent, expert comment. • Your proposal will be sent to at least three reviewers chosen for their expertise. • These reviewers will include members of the EPSRC college (a body of credible reviewers, nominated and renewed by the research community itself) and at least one of those you have nominated.

28. Research Council panel members • From January 2009 the AHRC will be sourcing panellists for all panel meetings from its Peer Review College Members. • ESRC membership of the Grant Assessment Panels is predominantly academic, although each panel has a number of non-academic ('user') members.  • EPSRC membership will mostly be taken from the EPSRC college, comprising both academics and industrialists.

29. UoH College members EPSRC • Prof Liam Blunt – C&E • Prof Rob Brown – AS • Dr Xun Chen – C&E • Prof Jane Xiang – C&E • Dr Gary Lucas – C&E • Prof Lee McCluskey – C&E • Prof Mike Page – AS ESRC • Prof Barry Doyle – MHM • Prof James Avis – EPD AHRC Dr Matthew Adkins – MHM Prof John Bryan – MHM Prof Michael Clarke – MHM Prof Barry Doyle – MHM Prof Keith Laybourn – MHM Prof Michael Russ – MHM Dr Rupert Till – MHM Prof Paul Ward – MHM Prof Eric Blyth – HHS

30. EU Funding • The principal source of EU research funding is from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). • FP7 groups all research related EU initiatives together under a common scheme and runs for 6 years (2007-2013) with a total budget of EUR 50,521 billion. • The programme for 2014-2020 is called Horizon 2020. • Derek McKenzie at KITE provides FP7 support.

31. Other EU funds • Lifelong Learning Programme (C&E and EPD) • Culture Programme • Health • Environment (LIFE +) • Justice and Home Affairs (DAPHNE) • But limited in terms of research funding.

32. Upcoming workshops • Marie Curie - European Research Careers: 15 March (10-11.30am) (part of We Love Research festival) • Building and developing a successful partnership: 29 March (10-12pm) • Je-S: 30 March (2-3pm), 23 April (10-11am) • Research Professional: 18 April (2-3pm), 22 May (10-11am) • UKRO (FP7): Friday 25 May (all day)

33. Intranet links • Internal funding opportunities: http://intra2.hud.ac.uk/research/rdfstaff.php • External funding - descriptions: http://intra2.hud.ac.uk/research/ExternalFunding.php • Key contacts: http://intra2.hud.ac.uk/research/biddingsupport.php • Useful guidance materials: http://intra2.hud.ac.uk/research/training.php