Author Archives: Esther KNIGHT

British Academy and ALLEA launch road map for embedding the social sciences and humanities in Horizon 2020

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The All European Academies (ALLEA), which brings together 52 Academies in more than 40 countries, has today published a roadmap for embedding the social sciences and humanities in Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and innovation programme from 2014-2020. Created by the British Academy, the roadmap sets out the key value of the social sciences and humanities in the realisation of Horizon 2020’s goals whilst making four key recommendations which can be viewed here.

Internships open social scientists’ eyes

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The Economic and Social Research Council is, once again, offering its PhD students internships at policymaking organisations.

“Sitting in a university staring at statistical software all day, we can easily lose track of the reason many of us got into research in the first place—to try to answer important policy-related questions,” says social scientist Michael Sanders.

Sanders spent six months of last year working at the Cabinet Office’s Behavioural Insights Team as part of the 2012 ESRC internship scheme before heading back to the University of Bristol’s Centre for Market and Public Organisation, where he is working on his PhD.

The 2013 scheme is looking for ESRC-funded PhD students to apply for internships at organisations including the Cabinet Office, the Office for National Statistics and the Scottish Government.

“We encourage all our researchers to make a difference, and one way of doing this is to engage with policymakers and practitioners in business and the public sector,” says Dawn Woodgate, head of postgraduate training and career development at the ESRC.

Sanders says he found spending time with policymakers helped him to focus on which research questions were most likely to help people, and how to communicate them to a non-academic audience, such as civil servants. He also had the opportunity to learn about research techniques from his hosts.

“I got first-hand experience in designing and running randomised controlled trials, which would have been much harder to get otherwise,” he says.

Katie Adolphus, A PhD student at the University of Leeds’ Institute of Psychological Sciences, says her placement at the British Heart Foundation opened her eyes to a career in policy. “I made contacts within the British Heart Foundation, and I also worked with partner charities such as Diabetes UK and Cancer Research UK, so I think I definitely made some contacts.”

The 95 internships on offer this year include participating in film campaigns about human trafficking, exploring the use of the police service’s social-media platform, and working with the Met Office to estimate the socio-economic benefits of reducing food waste through enhanced seasonal weather forecasts.

The deadline for applications is 8 March.

 

Engineering for Growth campaign to show the value of engineering to the economy and society

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The Royal Academy of Engineering has launched its Engineering for Growth campaign with a collection of activities to stimulate entrepreneurship and a report highlighting the £481bn contribution engineering makes to the UK economy.

Engineering for Growth will be a major theme for the Academy in 2013. It will demonstrate the economic impact and societal benefits delivered by engineering and provide the focus for specific activities designed to drive business innovation.

“Engineering for Growth is aligned with both our advocacy and operational activities,” says Sir John Parker GBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering.

“Engineering already makes up at least 28% of the UK economy and employs over 5.4 million people. It will need to play an even greater role as we rebalance and deliver growth in the economy. We will continue to highlight the huge benefits of investing in innovation and relevant skills as well running our own programmes in support of stimulating economic activity.”

Sir Roger Carr, President of the CBI, says: “The UK economy can only grow if it has the ability to turn innovative ideas into dynamic products and services. Engineering for Growth highlights the vital role engineering will need to play if we are to achieve this and maintain our place as a global economic power.”

Business Secretary Vince Cable says: “Engineering is central to building a stronger economy, which is why skills are such an important part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy. Engineers contribute widely to many areas of the economy; their understanding of technology and the opportunities it brings is helping drive up competitiveness across many sectors. Engineering for Growth activities will certainly play their part in supporting our ambitions to support talent-growth in the sector.

“We strongly support the Royal Academy of Engineering’s work to help young, highly-skilled engineers to develop entrepreneurial skills to take technologies to market. Small businesses are an important part of an agile economy, and having entrepreneurism as well as technical knowledge of the sector is essential to ensure success.”

The Academy’s Engineering for Growth campaign is available from: www.engineeringforgrowth.org.uk

Later this spring the Academy will launch the Enterprise Hub, a new business resource that will see a large number of Academy Fellows mentoring new engineering and technology start-ups.

As part of the Hub’s activities, the Academy aims to build on its Engineering Enterprise Fellowships programme, which enables entrepreneurial academics to spend a year starting a business.

The Academy also aims to build a new programme that will take ‘the best of the best’ early stage companies and provide them with a long term package of mentoring, training and bespoke support.

The Academy will continue to fund over 130 Researchers and build crucial links between industry and academia – providing the lifeblood for innovation in the UK.

Founded in 1976, the Royal Academy of Engineering promotes the engineering and technological welfare of the country. The fellowship – comprising the UK’s most eminent engineers – provides the leadership and expertise for the activities, which focus on the relationships between engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a national academy, it provides independent and impartial advice to Government; work to secure the next generation of engineers; and provide a voice for Britain’s engineering community. http://www.raeng.org.uk/

Horizon 2020 new EU research funding programme

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UKRO4

Over 40 academics from Staffs and Keele gathered last Wednesday to hear about the latest proposals for EU research funding from Jo Frost of the Brussels based UK Research Office. The day, organised by the External Projects team of Enterprise and Commercial Development covered the EU budget proposals for the 2024-2020 period.

Jo outlined areas that would continue as well as those where changes were anticipated, one potential development is for a separate area of funding for the humanities.

Areas for funding are to be grouped under three broad headings I) Excellent Science II) Industrial Leadership III) Societal challenges – in terms of Staffordshire University strengths, areas that there will be there will be funding available for include research related to health, demographic change, well being as well as inclusive and innovative societies.

Colleagues also heard from successful work the University is already undertaking with EU partners from Prof Nachi Chockaligham, and Enterprise Reader Jon Fairburn. Both highlighted areas of Continuing Professional Development as one of the benefits of partnership working.

Detailed power point presentations can be found here:

Horizon 2020 Horizon 2020 detail Erasmus for all

Business, Innovation and Skills Committee to further question Lord Heseltine

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The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee will take further evidence from Lord Heseltine on Tuesday 12 February at 9.30am

The session will allow the Committee an opportunity to question Lord Heseltine on matters arising from the publication of his Report, No Stone Unturned in Pursuit of Growth, including the localism agenda, economic growth, industrial strategy, Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Regional Growth Fund.

Image: PA

Universities Eligible for Extra Funds Under Risk-Sharing Finance Scheme:

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A further EUR 150 million of FP7 funding is to be made available under the Risk Sharing Instrument (RSFF). Following a recent modification to the it’s operating rules, universities undertaking either fundamental or applied research are now eligible to apply for risk financing in the form of a loan under this new batch of funding.
Managed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), the Risk-Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF) combines EU budget money and EIF resources to guarantee lending to small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-cap companies that undertake research and innovation.

First launched by the European Commission and EIB Group in December 2011, the RSFF has improved its capacity to meet the debt financing needs of universities seeking funding to support research programmes and purpose-built research installations. Universities are now addressed by the RSFF in a unique category among research and innovation promoters.

Interested universities should contact the EIB directly via either its main or UK offices (see links below). There is a continuous application process, and therefore no deadline exists for proposals.

Additional Information

Technology inspired innovation

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The Technology Strategy Board is to invest up to £2m in technical feasibility studies to stimulate innovation across four enabling technology areas. This will help to ensure that small and micro businesses in the UK are well equipped to respond to market opportunities across a range of economic sectors.

TSB are seeking projects in the following fields: advanced materials; biosciences; electronics, sensors and photonics; and information and communications technology.

The competition is open to small and micro companies only, working either singly or in collaboration with one partner. Projects can last up to four months and total project costs must not exceed £33,000.

This is a single-stage competition. It opens on 18 February 2013 and applicants need to register before noon on 27 March 2013.The deadline for applications is at noon on 3 April 2013. Successful projects must be completed by 30 November 2013.

A briefing event for potential applicants will be held in London on 21 February 2013.

 

FP7 ERC proof of concept call

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The European Commission Framework Programme 7: European Research Council/Ideas invites applications for the European Research Council proof-of-concept grants. Grants enable ERC-funded ideas to be brought to a pre-demonstration stage where potential commercialisation opportunities have been identified. Funds support:

•establishing viability, technical issues and overall direction;

•clarifying intellectual property rights position and strategy;

•providing feedback for budgeting and other forms of exploitation opportunity discussion;

•providing connections to later stage funding;

•covering initial expenses for establishing a company.

Applications are accepted by host institutions in association with principal investigators. All principal investigators benefiting from a recent ERC advanced or starting grant may participate and apply for ERC proof-of-concept funding. Candidate host institutions must engage the principal investigator for at least the duration of the proof-of-concept activity and must be established in a member state or an associated country. Any type of legal entity may host the principal investigator and their team. ERC actions are open to researchers of any nationality who intend to establish and conduct their research activity in any member state or associated country. Principal investigators may be of any age and nationality and may reside in any country at the time of the application. The indicative budget for this funding scheme is €10 million, to be divided equally over two rounds. Grants are worth up to €150,000 over 12 months to cover 100 per cent of eligible costs. One proof-of-concept grant will be awarded per ERC-funded project. FP7 ERC-2013-PoC.

  • Closing date 24 Apr 13

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/call_FP7?callIdentifier=ERC-2013-PoC&specificProgram=IDEAS#wlp_call_FP7

Annual UKRO Event 13th February 2013

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The External Projects Team are delighted to be hosting the annual UKRO event on the 13th February 2013.

The event is aimed both at colleagues who have experience of, and those who would like to know more about, EU funding.

This is an opportunity to hear about the new EU funding programmes (2014-2020) with UKRO European Advisor Jo Frost; as well as  firsthand experience of running EU partnerships and projects from Prof. Nachi Chockalingam and Jon Fairburn.

The Programme is set out below –and is arranged so that you can book for any, or all of the sessions. Some sessions are repeated during the day to offer maximum flexibility.

Please register by February 6th  via externalprojects@staffs.ac.uk, specifying which sessions you wish to attend;

                                    STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY

                                   UKRO Annual visit Feb 13th                                                                                                  FINAL PROGRAMME                   

        All sessions in ROOM BG 21 – Ground floor Brindley Building

 

  SESSION 1

0900, Horizon 2020, the new EU research and innovation funding programme (2014-2020):Current proposals and decision making process.  Jo Frost, European Advisor, UKRO

1100 Coffee/ networking

SESSION 2 1130, Working with EU partners –Staffordshire University experience. Nachi Chockalingam, Professor of Clinical Biomechanics
School of Psychology, Sport and Exercise; Faculty of Health Sciences

SESSION 3 1200, How to make the most of UKRO services (repeated  1500). Jo Frost, European Advisor, UKRO

SESSION 4 1400, Erasmus for All: replacing the Lifelong Learning Programme, includes education funding and  funding related to Sport. Jo Frost, European Advisor, UKRO

SESSION 5 1430, Working with EU partners –Staffordshire University experience. Jon Fairburn: Enterprise Reader, Business School – Research & Enterprise. Faculty of Business, Education and Law

SESSION 6 1500, How to make the most of UKRO services (repeat of 1200) Jo Frost, European Advisor, UKRO

SESSION 7 1530 -16-30, Marie Curie Individual Fellowships – session for all or 1-2-1 individual slots. Jo Frost, European Advisor, UKRO.

 

 

 

 

Scottish Government tender: Evaluation of Community Payback Orders

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http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/new-research-projects/social-research

 The Scottish Government Social Research’s Justice Analytical Services seeks to commission a process and early-outcome evaluation of community payback orders, criminal justice social work reports and the presumption against short prison sentences.

 This evaluation will specifically focus on the quality and consistency of Criminal Justice Social Work Reports, the use of the range of Community Payback Orders requirements and legislative powers, the extent to which Community Payback Orders are tailored to address specific individual offender risks and needs, and the impact of all these on demonstrable outcomes.

 A budget of £95,000 exclusive of VAT is available.