research funding opportunities in kls

Research Funding Opportunities

in KLS

Phil WardResearch Funding Manager

October 2009

To recap…

• Basically two types of funding available…: ‘Responsive Mode’ Grants & Fellowships

For research on a subject suggested by you ‘Managed Programme’ Grants & Contracts

For research on a subject suggested by the funder Programme Grants are similar to other grants; Contracts tend to

have more onerous terms and conditions and generally result in ‘deliverable’ product/report

• …and five sources of funding: Research Councils Charities Professional and Learned Bodies Government Industry

So you have to consider…

• Remit Do they fund your area? Does the scheme fit? (eg Grants/Fellowships) What are the politics behind the call?

• Costs Will it cover all your costs?

• If not, are there other reasons to apply? • Overheads – ‘Full Economic Costs’ (fEC)

• Timetable Deadline – is there enough time to write a proposal? Duration – will it cover the period of your research?

• Success Rate Is it worth it? Back up plan

Research Councils 2009-10

• Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (26% - £814m) (£795m)

• Science & Technology Facilities Council (20% - £630m) (£624m)

• Medical Research Council (19% - £658m) (£606m)

• Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (14% - £471m) (£427m)

• Natural Environment Research Council (13% - £408m) (£392m)

• Economic & Social Research Council (5% - £170m) (£165m)

• Arts & Humanities Research Council (3% - £104m) (£103m)

Research Council Delivery Plans 2008-11

• RCs laying out their priorities for the next 3 yrs

• 4 cross-council priorities: Energy Living with Environmental Change Global Uncertainties Ageing: Lifelong Health and Wellbeing

• ‘Economic and Social Benefit’

…and Strategic Plans

• AHRC 2007-12 to promote and support

• the production of world-class• world-class postgraduate training

to strengthen the impact of arts and humanities research

To act as voice and advocate for arts and humanities

• ESRC 2009-14 Global Economic Performance, Policy & Management Health & Wellbeing Understanding Individual Behaviour New Technology, Innovation & Skills Environment, Energy & Resilience Security, Conflict & Justice Social Diversity

AHRC

• Delivery Plan Priorities: Stimulating innovation in the knowledge economy Global threats to security Capitalising our cultural assets

• NB: Responsive Mode/Strategic 3:1

• Success Rates 2008-09: Research Grants

o Standard 12% (23%, 27%)o Speculative 13% (24%, 31%)o Practice-led 33% (32%, 19%)

Fellowships in the C&P Arts 10% (17%, 18%) Research Leave 19% (27%,

49%) Networks & Workshops 30% (21%, 33%)

AHRC

• Research Grants Emphasis on supporting ‘teams’ of researchers 4 ‘routes’ to applying:

Standard (£20k - £1m)Early Career (£20k - £200k): <8yrs of PhD, or <6yrs 1st

apptSpeculative (£20k - £200k): ‘outcomes uncertain’Practice-led (up to £20k): ‘practice as integral component’

Deadline ‘open’

• Research Fellowships

ESRC• Delivery Plan Priorities:

Succeeding in the global economy Understanding individual behaviour Population change

• NB: Responsive Mode/Strategic 5:3.5

• Success Rates 2008-09: Standard Grants 14% (15%,19%) Fellowships 13% (26%,15%) Small Grants 25% (36%,39%)

Pros and Cons of RCUK

• Benefits of applying to AHRC or ESRC: Prestige fEC – generous funding

• What to watch out for: JeS form The funding ‘politics’ Social & economic impact The ‘lure’ of programmes

…but AHRC programme success rate good this year: 41%

Divide between AHRC and ESRC remits AHRC: Research Grants: ‘Team’ research ESRC: Small grants/standard grants assessment:

better to be seen by individual or whole Board? ESRC: Users and Ethics

Remit of AHRC and ESRC

• AHRC supports research into the content, procedures, theory, philosophy and history of the law. This includes studies of legal systems and legislation in all periods of history and in all parts of the world.

• ESRC supports socio-legal studies, which are concerned with the social, political and economic influences on and impact of the law and the legal system.

• Both will provide personal advice on this

• No projects should fall in the ‘gap’• Each might fund projects that include elements of the other• Will use ‘appropriate’ spread of peer reviewers

Charities

• GeneralLeverhulme TrustWellcome TrustNuffield Foundation Joseph Rowntree Foundation

• SpecialistOften medical

o eg Cancer Research UK

Leverhulme Trust

• Funds all fields, except social policy and welfare, medicine and education

• Supports original, risk-taking research that often transcends traditional discipline boundaries

• 2007 expenditure £43.1m (£44.3m), split between: Sciences 46% (45%,45%) Humanities 33% (43%,36%) Social Sciences 21% (12%,19%)

Leverhulme Trust

• Success Rates Visiting Professorships 41% (43%,50%) Emeritus Professorships 31%

(40%,48%) Study Abroad Fellowships 20% (31%,24%) Research Fellowships 16% (18%,22%) Philip Leverhulme Prizes 21%

(18%,19%) Research Grants 22%

(20%,22%) Major Research Fellowships 13% (13%,13%) Early Career Fellowships 14%

(12%,11%)

Leverhulme Trust

• Benefits of applying to Leverhulme Not ‘restricted’ by demands of distributing public

money o no ‘political agenda’o reporting not as onerous

• What to watch out for: Research has to appeal to broad general audience

o Trustees all ex-Unilever employeeso Depend for advice on:

o ‘Advisory Committee’ (for smaller grants): 9 professorso ‘Advisory Panel’ (for larger grants): 32 academics

Interdisciplinary – but not ‘last resort’ Risk taking Individual ‘vision’

Wellcome Trust

• ‘To foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health’

• Funding expenditure in 2007-2008 £702 (£519m, £484m)

• As well as Biomedical Research, also supports ‘Biomedical Humanities’ Broad remits:

o History: ‘research into the historical study of all factors affecting the medical and health experience of people and animals - in all countries and at all periods.’

o Ethics: ‘research into ethical issues that arise in the development and delivery of healthcare or the use of medical techniques in non-healthcare contexts.’

Wellcome Trust

• Benefits of applying to Wellcome Wide range of funding More useful feedback following rejection Supportive once you have received funding

• What to watch out for Bringing in electronic submission in Medical

Humanities Biomedical ethics centred on funding for institutions

and developing countries Bewildering choice of funding schemes

Nuffield Foundation

• Aims ‘To advance social well being…by supporting work

which will bring about improvements in society.’ To support the development of research and

professional capacity

• Research expenditure (2008): £10.6 (£10.9m, £9.5m)

• Benefits of applying to Nuffield 2 part process: initial application very simple, and can

apply any time Can apply for ‘teaching buy out’ in grants

• What to watch out for: Strong social policy element Small scale funding Importance of ‘methodology’ Look at previously successful grants

Nuffield Foundation

• Project Grants Funding for research, practical developments and

innovation Programme areas

o Child protection and family justiceo Access to justiceo Open dooro NB: ‘Older People & their Families’ area dropped

• Social Science Small Grants Currently being updated (autumn 2009?) Up to £12k Not restricted to policy/practical projects, although do

look for ‘social relevance’

Joseph Rowntree Foundation

• 3 aims: Poverty: to examine the root causes of poverty and

disadvantage and identify solutions. Empowerment: to find ways in which people and

communities can have control of their own lives. Place: to contribute to the building and development

of strong, cohesive and sustainable communities.

• Research expenditure (2008): £3.5m (£5.4m)

• Benefits of applying to JRF: Prestigious

• What to watch out for: Very prescriptive calls for proposals Relatively small amounts of funding

Professional & Learned Societies

• Generally provide some small scale support for visits, conferences, fellowships or smaller research projects

• Professional Bodies Represent people working in a specific area

o e.g. Socio-legal Studies Association

• Learned Societies Represent, and act as a forum for, a

particular subject or disciplineo e.g. Royal Society, British Academy

British Academy

• Funds research in Humanities & Social Sciences

• Research Expenditure 07/08: £23m (£22.4m, £21.3m)

• funding strategy is focused on providing small-scale support, including Development Awards (up to £150k fEC), fellowships, conference grants and agreements with other countries for international projects

British Academy

• Success Rates 2007/08:

Small Grants 50% (50%,69%) Overseas Conference Grants 49% (50%,50%) Bardas 9% (9%,59%*) Conference Support 9% (9%,50%**) Senior Research Fellowships 9% (9%, 9%) Postdoc Fellowship 8% (8%,5%)

*Bardas replaced ‘Larger Grants’, and grant increased from £20k to £150k

**Replaced British Conference Grants and increased upper limit from £2k to £20k

British Academy

• Benefits of applying to BA Small Grants have highest success rate out of all

relevant funders Relatively simple forms ‘useful’ pots of money – eg conference funding,

collaboration etc

• What to watch out for: Quite a ‘traditional’ funder Success rates slump Electronic forms

Government

• National Government Departments

o Usually managed programmes, e.g. DH, DEFRA, DFIDo Some responsive mode – e.g. DEFRA’s Darwin

Initiative County Councils Other Government-funded organisations

o British Council – collaborative grantso NESTA

• International Europe

o Framework Programme USA

o Federal Grants & National Institutes of Health

Other National Government Funding

• County Councils Commission surveys etc.

• British Council Have collaborative agreements with a number of

countries

Dept of Health

• Research & Development budget 2008-09: £800m

• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Umbrella organisation covering a range of funding

programmes, including:o Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB): ‘it funds research into

everyday practice in the health service’ o Service Delivery & Organisation (SDO): ‘commissions

research on the way health services are organised and delivered by the NHS.’

• Benefits of DH: A lot of funding available, fEC NIHR success rate good

• What to watch out for: Complex applications Research Governance Framework (RGF)

SE Research Design Service

• £5m service for SE Strategic Health Authority

• Surrey, Sussex, Kent

• Advise and support health and social care researchers

• Free

European Funding

• European Commission ‘driving force’ behind EU Drafts laws, manages day-to-day business of EU Organised into 37 Directorates General & Services,

includingo Justice, Freedom & Security

eg ‘Daphne II Programme’ to combat violence against children, young people and women

o Research Framework Programme

o Regional Policy Interreg Programme

DG Research

• Framework Programme: EU’s main method for funding research and innovation

• FP7 running from 2007-13

• Budget €50bn over 7 years

• Organised into 4 pillars:

Cooperation Ideas

People Capacities

Cooperation

People

Ideas

Capacities

JRC

FP7: Budget Split 2007-2013

€7 460

€4 728

€4 217

€1 751

€32 365

Values in € Millions

FP7: Cooperation Themes

• Health

• Food, agriculture and biotechnology

• Information and communication technologies.

• Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies

• Energy

• Environment (including climate change)

• Transport (including aeronautics)

• Socio-economic sciences and the humanities

• Security

• Space

FP7 - SSH

• 1. Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society: the European case

• 2. Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a European perspective: Paths towards sustainable development

• 3. Major trends in society and their implications

• 4. Europe in the World

• 5. The Citizen in the European Union

• 6. Socio-Economic and Scientific Indicators

• 7. Foresight activities

• 8. Strategic Activities

FP7 – SSH – Current Call

• Deadline 2 Feb 2010

• Collaborative projects (CP) – up to €2.7m

• Topics include: Demand-driven Research and Innovation policies for

growth, welfare and wellbeing The public sector of the future Local welfare systems favouring social cohesion Analysis of the impacts of global changes EU regions and their interactions with the

neighbourhood regions European Identities: Inner and outer perceptions of

Europe and the EU Reinterpreting Europe's cultural heritage: towards

the 21st century library and museum?

FP7: European Research Council

• Responsive Mode

• No requirement for collaborative groups

• ‘Starting Independent Researcher Grant’ 200 to be made annually, each lasting up to 5 yrs Up to €400k per year Applicants <10 yrs from PhD Very over subscribed – success rate approx 5% Next deadline (SSH 9 Dec 2009)

• ‘Advanced Research Grant’ Up to €700k per year Applicants must have >10yr track record Next call: end of the year; deadline in Spring

European Science Foundation

• Not part of EU (member countries include Switzerland and Turkey)

• Aims to act as a catalyst for brining together European scientists and researchers

• Includes Social Sciences & Humanities

• Schemes include exploratory workshops, Programmes and COST Networks

Industry

• Does provide funding for research, but tend to be more restrictive in the parameters of the research and use of intellectual property

• In-house expenditure on R&D e.g. Pfizer spent £550m on research in UK alone Some of this used in collaborative projects

• Contracts for research services

• Grants or award programmes

• If specifically seeking industry support, talk to Kent Innovation & Enterprise (KIE)

Key points to remember when applying

• Keep it simple Write for a general audience

• Think defensively Assessors are looking to pick holes

• Concentrate on explaining what you will do Keep theoretical background to a minimum

• Make sure costs match outcome Value for money is a consideration

• Show it to your peers Better to have feedback now

Applying for Funding - Approval

• All applications must have Internal Approval Form Series of yes/no questions as to risks, use of resources etc Must be signed by:

o PI and Co-I(s)o Head of Depto Research Services

If excessive demand on library/computing serviceso Head of Computing Serviceo Subject Librarian

• May also need: Ethical Approval

o Research proposals of a clinical, psychological, social or physiological nature involving human participants

o Research Ethics Advisory Groups – Ethics Committeeo Contact Nicole Palmer ([email protected])

Research Governance Approvalo need to get advice and/or approval if your research is in

Health or Social Welfare

Sources of Information

• Funders www.ahrc.ac.uk www.esrc.ac.uk www.mrc.ac.uk www.leverhulme.ac.uk www.nuffieldfoundation.org www.wellcome.ac.uk www.jrf.org.uk www.britac.ac.uk www.cordis.lu/fp7/home.cfm http://erc.europa.eu/

index_en.cfm www.esf.org

• Sources of information www.researchresearch.com www.ukro.ac.uk www.serdsu.org http://fundermental.blogspot.com/

• Applying for funding Research Serviceswww.kent.ac.uk/res Je-Shttps://je-s.rcuk.ac.uk/eforms/

secure/Login.asp

• Help and Support Phil Ward

[email protected] Jacqueline Aldridge

[email protected]

research funding opportunities in kls

Documents

mmedical research council

research grantsstandard12

research leave19

funderprogramme grants

yrs4 crosscouncil priorities

sources of funding

success rates

responsive modestrategic