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Wider Outlook Funding, Policy updates and Research

Enterprise and Commercial Development

October 2013 Edition 37

Welcome to October‘s Wider Outlook—the team have chosen the theme of research and the REF for this month, with the opportunity to contribute to the HEFCE consultation articles on the role of open-access pub-

lishing. And don‘t forget the opportunity to meet EU specialists in your field via a study visit – closing date October 15th, see page four for more details. As ever do contact us with any comments, ideas or suggestions at [email protected]

Contact Us For editorial and funding queries contact the External Projects Team: (01785) 353774 [email protected] For research policy & news queries contact: (01782) 294945 [email protected] Useful Links www.researchprofessional.com

www.ukro.ac.uk

Annual UK Research Office visit: Wednesday December 11th 2013 An all day event –Ashley LT 112 -113, STOKE, with an opportunity to meet our new UKRO advisor, Eevi Laukkanen, and to hear first hand about the new EU funding programmes for research.

Have your say: Open access to publicly funded research The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is consulting on the future of access to publicly funded research, with a closing date of October 30th. HEFCE Consultation

The Royal Historical Society has said that ―to confuse quality with availability...is The University‘s response is being coor- wrong in principle, and will be dinated by Lesley Rollason and anyone administratively burdensome in practice‖. wishing to make a contribution to this is The British Academy has said that given encouraged to contact Lesley by October the lack of evidence about the impact on 16th; some disciplines, it is not appropriate to [email protected] link research assessment with Research Councils UK‘s intention to make UK Open access is under debate following a research open access. letter sent by the council to ask for views on the role of open-access publishing in The harshest criticism for including openthe submission of outputs to the REF access criteria in future REFs comes from post-2014. HEFCE published a summary the historians and social scientists. The of the 264 responses, plus all the individ- RHS applauded the REF for not relying on ual responses. journal rankings and looking for excellence wherever it is to be found, but said that ―a prescriptive policy for future REFs about which journals are acceptable on the grounds of their open-access policy… sharply contradicts that principle‖.

Contact: [email protected]

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implemented, according to submissions to the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

The post-2014 Research Excellence Framework will be undermined if proposed open-access rules are

A coalition of 20 learned societies of humanities researchers supported HEFCE‘s proposal of no preference between green and gold models of open access. Through gold open access, authors pay publishers to make their work freely available. The green model makes papers open access after an agreed embargo period.

Upcoming Funding:

(I) Collaborative Research Network funding The ethos behind Collaborative Research Networks (CRNs) is to provide some initial funding to enable researchers to develop networks across a range of institutions, which may perhaps lead to bigger projects and funding from other sources in the future. The networks should be inclusive rather than insular.

Wider Outlook

sent at key events and/or who devised activities for the EU. Examples of Re-EUnion events might Next Application Deadline: include those that focus on anniversaries, landmark summits or meetings, new polMonday 02 December 2013 CRN icy directions for the EU, contested legis(II) Re-EUnion Funding This is lation, or crises confronting the Union. A an open, competitive call for UACES Re- successful proposal will demonstrate both the insight to be drawn from the EUnion funding. The Re-EUnions are detopic of the Union and the degree of signed to offer insight on the origin of commitment by practitioner participants policy initiatives and events in the EU's to take part. Further, there is the expechistory and to afford an opportunity to reflect critically upon the understanding tation that the event would subsequently of events and decisions and their conse- be made available via podcast, or other medium, to the wider UACES memberquences for the contemporary EU. Reship. If appropriate, it is envisaged that EUnions are envisioned as one or two the event should take place in the city, day events designed to bring together or place, of significance to the original academics, commentators and analysts with those policy-makers who devised or event. implemented policy initiatives, were pre-

Top Tips from Funders External funders from the Arts Council, AHRC and Paul Hamlyn Foundation joined University staff in a workshop to develop ideas for new research projects. The event brought together staff from a variety of backgrounds. They discussed their research passions and shared ideas about new research projects which they could collaborate on. The funders advised whether they were the types of

project which would get funded and gave  Don‘t get too technical –people guidance on the direction they should reading the bid probably will not have a take to ensure that funding bids are suc- detailed understanding of your specialcessful. ism, so keep it simple. The funders found the event very useful as it was a new way Top tips included: of working and showed them a different  Follow your expertise -show funders side to the development. Members of we are the most knowledgeable team to staff are now working together to dedevelop the idea velop project ideas as a result of the work-

Open Funding Calls Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Reframing dementia in the 21st century: challenging thinking and stimulating debate Projects to influence how people think, talk, write about and portray dementia. The aim is to challenge attitudes, understanding and behaviours around dementia that reinforce stigma, isolation and exclusion. Deadline 06/11/13

Leverhulme Trust

Research Fellowship These support experienced researchers, particularly those who are or have been prevented by routine duties from completing a programme of original research. There are no restrictions on academic discipline, and awards are not limited to those holding appointments in higher education. 07/11/13

NESTA

Digital Makers Fund Invite mass participation and use young people’s interests and passions and pastimes as a gateway to digital making, inspiring young people to become creators, not just users of digital technologies. £50-20,000 Deadline 14/11/13

British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences

International conference grants Funding for researchers presenting oral communications at international sport and exercise-related scientific conferences. . The conference must be outside the UK. Must be a member of BASES to apply. Deadline 01/03/14

Search open funding calls here http://bit.ly/1cKewBp Page 2

Research and Funding Update UK Research Councils: Knowledge Transfer Portal Knowledge transfer describes how knowledge and ideas move between the knowledge source to the potential users of that knowledge. The Research Councils encourage knowledge transfer by supporting schemes and activities to transfer good ideas, research results and skills between, for example, universities and other research organisations, business, the third sector, public sector and/ or the wider community.

and/or with the third sector (e.g. charities). Collaborative research can take a number of forms, from a basic grant between two partners, through to a complex multi-partner research programme.

Wider Outlook ships between business and researchers. This includes support for brokering and networking activities, fellowship schemes that enable researchers to work in a commercial environment, and support for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs).

Commercialisation & Development Commercialisation & Development includes a number of activities to encourage researchers to take their ideas further down the route to exploitation, and to reward them for excellence in innovaCollaborative Training tion. The Research Councils‘ Follow-on Collaborative Training enables research- Fund (plus a range of other Councilers to develop the relevant skills to unspecific schemes) supports ‗proof-ofdertake excellent research, work effecconcept‘ type work, the RCUK Business tively in business (and/or the government Plan Competition provides training and The RCUK Knowledge Transfer Portal or other important sectors), and exploit mentoring in the development of busioffers a point of access for those in, academia, business, public, private and/or the outcomes of their research. Training ness skills, and Enterprise Training developportunities include vocational courses, ops researchers‘ entrepreneurial skills. third sectors, who want to find out collaborative studentship projects beabout Research Council knowledge transfer schemes and activities, and how tween academia and industry, and trainRCUK Knowledge Transfer ing in entrepreneurship. to get involved. There are links to Research Council funding opportunities, current events, networks, and training People & Information Exchange courses. People & Information Exchange recognises that individuals are at the heart of knowledge transfer. All Research CounCollaborative Research cils encourage increased levels of univerCollaborative Research is academic resity-business interaction; all support the search undertaken in partnership with other universities or research organisa- exchange of researchers between academia and industry, and stimulate partnertions, with business, with government

Research Funding Opportunities Find Funding Check out how to do your own search for funding http://blogs.staffs.ac.uk/research/ category/resources/fundingcalendar/

Future of the Armed Forces: understanding issues around integration of Regular and Reserve personnel The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in collaboration with the British Army and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is seeking to commission innovative research projects to help inform some of the pressing issues facing the Armed Forces in the process of integrating Regular and Reserve components into a ‗Whole Force‘ structure. The closing date for proposals is 16.00 on 14 November. Proposals should be submitted electronically using the Research Council‘s Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) form.

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Research News and EU Funding

Wider Outlook

Transversal Study Visits The Second round of applications for Transversal Study Visits to be taken between March and June 2014, is now open. Further information about the application process, eligibility criteria and a link to the online application can be found on the Transversal website. The deadline for applications is 15 October 2013. For education professionals, a Transversal Study Visit in another European country can offer the benefit of the opportunity to learn more about European education systems and practices as well as exchange expertise and best practice on a common theme. Study Visits only last between 3 and 5 days, which allows the flexibility of developing professionally while still keeping up with the workload.

the hosts (from Wszechnica, a spin-out of Jagiellonian University) in Krakow included the requirement to diagnose and shape programmes to meet specific needs supported by evidence (as a consultant) compared to prior experience of delivering an off-the–shelf programme. This is a role which providers have been undertaking in the UK for many years.

Sarah Tudor Head of Employer Engagement Shares her transversal The idea of developing tools and techniques for trainers making the experience in Krakow, Poland. transition to consultants and the practice of industry standards for The focus of the study tour was ‘from trainer to consultant: develconsultants (something which exists in some countries) was disopment of in-house training programmes’ and the programme atcussed and the general consensus was there could be some work tracted a range of participants from a variety of EU countries inon standards but these should not be too restrictive. cluding Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Macedonia and Germany from universities, other education providers and private and public sector organisations as providers of training, consultancy and educational I learned a lot from the other participants despite the diversity of services. backgrounds and organisations and the group has indicated an intention to continue to work together in future on potential EU The visit enabled the group to share experiences and to understand projects. more about their system of training and consultancy and to identify the main issues and challenges between roles. Key challenges for

ECD contract review service Graduate entrepreneurship events

The UK Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship has published its events calendar for the 2013/14 academic year. Topics cover a variety of areas and include The Challenges of Working with International Postgraduate Students, Impact in Research, Research Ethics, and Using new technologies in delivering Research Skills and Professional Development Training. Some are free to attend and the type of event varies from workshops, conferences to study trips. Further information at http:// www.ukcge.ac.uk/main/events. Page 4

Chris Kenning our Contracts officer has produced a factsheet, setting out the essential elements of the Contract Review Service provided by Enterprise and Commercial Development.

Contract Review Fact Sheet