Welcome to the Support Services Conference 2007.

We would appreciate your comments regarding the conference and any ideas for suture events so please help us by returning the feedback forms.

Dr David Langley, Director of RED

Key Trends in Research and Development

Support Services Conference, 26th June 2007

3 Context

• Research and Enterprise (along with teaching) is at the

heart of what the University of Bristol does

• It contributes to the University's international reputation,

it informs and stimulates teaching and it contributes to

the economy of the South West, the UK and globally

• We are recognised as one of the most research

intensive Universities in the UK, even though we are

one of the smallest in size

• We are also a global player undertaking research that is

world-leading or internationally excellent

4

But, what do we mean by ‘Research’ ?

5 What is research ? – the Fracsati definition

• “Research is original investigation undertaken in order to gain knowledge and understanding;

• It includes scholarship, invention and generation of new ideas, images, performances, artefacts and design and the use of existing knowledge to produce new materials, devices, products and processes…”

• It excludes routine testing or analysis

6 What Research do we do and how good are we at doing it?

• We have an extremely diverse portfolio across

many disciplines, Faculties and Depts and have

approx 2000 funded research projects.

• In the last independent assessment of research

quality (RAE 2001), 78 per cent of Bristol

University's departments were judged to be world

class or internationally excellent

• The next RAE is scheduled for 2008…

7 Research Funding

• Almost all research done at the University is funded by

external organisations such as Govts, Research

Councils, Charities, Industry, NGO, EU,

philanthropists and through peer reviewed competition

• Various factors affect the success of a research

proposal e.g. quality and deliverability, scope,

experience of the researcher, political climate,

external priorities and drivers, strategies set by

funding organisations

8 Research Funding

• In recent years the Government has substantially

increased spending on research, and science

budget has than doubled since 1997, rising to £3.4

billion

• The strength of the economy impacts on the ability

of charities and industry to fund research

• The expectation is that research will continue to ‘do

well’ under a Gordon Brown premiership

9

So, what does the research portfolio at the University

look like?

10 Research Income 2005/06 -University of Bristol, £76m

Research Councils39%

UK Charities27%

UK Government17%

European6%

Overseas3%

UK Industry8%

11

What are the big issues that we need to be aware of ?

12 Big issues: analysis and intelligence, influence

• Planning and prioritisation of research activities can

be informed by intelligence– Horizon scanning – knowing about opportunities

and understanding the thinking of policy makers, increased networking

– Anticipating the “grand challenges”– Being involved in setting agenda nationally &

internationally (rather than responding to it!)– Understanding what is going on in key policy

areas (e.g. China & India) – Knowing what our competitors are doing

13 Big issues - Collaboration

• Encouraging collaboration across disciplines and

with other Universities, industry and other countries

(e.g. Worldwide Universities Network)

• Being prepared to lead bigger, bolder programmes

of research with clearly articulated deliverables e.g.

Gates, EU

• Being slick at relationship management with

research funders in key sectors; awareness that

funders are now starting to work together and want

to be involved throughout a project

14 But….

• Collaboration and size adds complexity and researchers

need good pre-award and post-award advice, support and

management

• This increasingly requires specialist skills such as bid

support, research governance & ethics, project

management, EU, relationship management, contracting,

enterprise

• Efficient systems are essential

• Ideally, we work in partnership – we are more than a clerical

function but must demonstrate our professionalism…

15 Big issues – Research themes

• Focus on and support known areas of strength and

international excellence; identify what Bristol

uniquely has to offer

• Research themes are a tool aimed at encouraging

research development, particularly multidisciplinary,

and communicating this externally

• They can assist Deans in allocation of resources

• Compare our research themes with external

horizon scans – be proactive and dynamic

16 Examples of University Research Themes

• Cardiovascular Science

• Neuroscience

• Nanoscience and Quantum

Information

• Animal Welfare and Behaviour

• Cell Biology

• Vision

• Human Rights

• Global Change

• Advanced Composites

• Dynamics Engineering

• Medieval Cultures

• Colonialism

• Performativity, Place, Space

• Security and Governance

• Gender

17 Big issues – Impact of Research

• “Measurement” of impact as a key indicator increasingly popular (economic, political, social, etc.)– Publications, citations– Novel compounds, devices, patents, licences,

spin-outs– Consultancy, policy development, press

coverage, conferences, training, outreach to communities, benefits to society

• These will become increasingly important

18 Other issues

• Research requires investment in– Big, expensive buildings (e.g. Science)– Expensive equipment (e.g. High Performance

Computing– Information resources (e.g. Libraries, etc)– World class academics– Developing academics

• What support and where/how provided ?

19 And I haven’t even mentioned

– Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange– Support for early stage researchers– Success rates and how we improve them– Full economic costs and sustainability issues– Cultural change– And the numerous roles RED undertakes…..

www.bristol.ac.uk/research/

20 And now some actual researchers…

• Professor Nishan Canagarajah (Dept of Electrical

and Electronic Engineering)

• Dr Michael Naughton (School of Law)

• Dr Mark Horton (Dept of Archaeology and

Anthropology)

Welcome to the Support Services Conference 2007.

We would appreciate your comments regarding the conference and any ideas for suture events so please help us by returning the feedback forms.