STFC StrategyConsultation

Why a consultation?

• Future direction of the Research Council• To refine strategy document (not overhaul!)• Basis for future spending and prioritisation decisions• Provide a framework for our consultation and advisory

system

• Consultation deadline:5pm, 20th March– http://www.stfc.ac.uk/STFCConsultation/cnStrategy.aspx?id=79

STFC’s Royal Charter

• Promote and support high-quality scientific research bydeveloping and providing, by any means, facilities andtechnical expertise in support of basic strategic andapplied research programmes funded by personsestablished in the UK and elsewhere;

• Promote and support, by any means, high-quality basic,strategic and applied research and related post-graduatetraining in astronomy, particle physics, space science andnuclear physics and research in any other field whichmakes use of scientific facilities where access is provided,arranged or otherwise made available by the Council,having regard to the objects of the other ResearchCouncils

STFC’s Royal Charter

• Promote and support the advancement of knowledge andtechnology (including the promotion and support of theexploitation of research outcomes) and to provide trainedscientists and engineers, and thereby to contribute to theeconomic competitiveness of the UK and the quality of lifeof its people, meeting the needs of users and beneficiaries

• We are also charged to:– Generate public awareness;– Communicate research outcomes;– Encourage public engagement and dialogue;– Disseminate knowledge;– Provide advice.

STFC’s Vision

• Working with the other RCs and the broader research basewe will deliver maximum scientific, economic and societalbenefits to the UK by:– Providing world-leading science facilities and associated

technologies, and leveraging the UK position in the choice andlocation of international facilities as appropriate;

– Taking the UK lead in supporting world-class research inastronomy, nuclear and particle physics, and space science;

– Maximising the impact of our science and technology, includingthrough the Science and Innovation Campuses and GatewayCentres, to generate skills and public engagement and to transferknowledge and create economic impact.

Government Priorities

• Human challenges– Our health and wellbeing, our safety and security, and our

economic wellbeing and knowledge economy• Global challenges

– Planet-wide issues such as environmental change anddevelopment of sustainable energy sources

• Universal challenges– Understanding the fundamental constituents of matter at the

smallest scales, through to challenges beyond our planet, wherewe seek to understand our place in the Solar System and the originof the Universe.

What are we being consulted about?

• 10 questions1. Which of the areas of current and planned STFC activities would

you prioritise for investment and why? If faced with a fundingchoice, which areas of current and planned activity would youreduce in priority.

2. What do you see as the most appropriate way to determine theoptimum balance of our research portfolio between curiosity-drivenand application-led?

3. How would you envisage interacting with our science andinnovation campuses and what benefits would you foresee?

Which of the areas of current andplanned STFC activities would youprioritise for investment and why?

If faced with a funding choice, whichareas of current and planned activitywould you reduce in priority.

Government Priorities

STFC add-ons

• New knowledge– Physics in action at extreme physical conditions eg. Particle and

nuclear physics of early universe.• A high-tech workforce

– Inspiration of young people, support of students, scientists,engineers and technicians, innovation campuses

• The aerospace industry and STFC– Worth >£5bn to the UK economy, with one of the highest rates of

R&D investment and value-adding rations of any industrial sector.

Underpinning Science

• Astronomy• Nuclear physics• Particle astrophysics• Particle physics• Space science

• Other disciplines supported by the facilities:– Biology and biomolecular science, chemistry, earth sciences,

environmental science, cultural heritage, archaeology etc.

Our toolbox

• Facilities– Neutrons, photons, fundamental particles, astronomy, space exploration,

computational science capabilities.• Technology

– Detectors, accelerator technology, advanced engineering, technologygateway centres

• The Futures Programmes– Biomedical, security, environmental & energy applications

Show me the money!

Show me the money!

Prioritising our programme

• Decision-making framework:– Excellence

• Importance, timeliness and potential impact, breadth and health,international relevance, deliverability, value.

– Impact• Economic, societal, media, match to public policy, potential to lever

further funding, resource implications, risk of meeting objectives.– Leadership

• External funding, research output, track record, influence, level of risk.– Synergies

• Coherence with other STFC programmes, alignment with strategicobjectives, relevance to innovation campuses, international.

2. What do you see as the most appropriateway to determine the optimum balance of ourresearch portfolio between curiosity-drivenand application-led?

STFC aims to achieve this balance by:

• Supporting research groups in astronomy, nuclearphysics, particle astrophysics, particle physics andspace science

• Providing state-of-the-art facilities covering a broadrange of applications

• Pro-actively identifying requirements for next-generationfacilities for the UK, and developing innovative deliverymechanisms

• Prioritising our programmes

Assessment of success

• Continuation of support for project funding through ourpeer-review system

• Engagement with other Research Councils to ensure thatour national and international facilities are in line with theneeds of their research programmes

• Regular programmatic reviews• Health of disciplines that use the facilites (for example,

impact in peer-reviewed literature)• No. of projects supported by peer-review system• Monitoring the communities that benefit from the outcomes

of the research

Prioritising our programme

• Decision-making framework:– Excellence

• Importance, timeliness and potential impact, breadth andhealth, international relevance, deliverability, value.

– Impact• Economic, societal, media, match to public policy, potential to

lever further funding, resource implications, risk of meetingobjectives.

– Leadership• External funding, research output, track record, influence, level

of risk.– Synergies

• Coherence with other STFC programmes, alignment withstrategic objectives, relevance to innovation campuses,international.

How would you envisage interacting with ourscience and innovation campuses and whatbenefits would you foresee?

• Daresbury and Harwell Science and Innovation Campusesare designed to be national exemplars of ‘open innovation’.

• They will provide a unique platform for public and privatesector participation in collaborative science and technologyprogrammes across disciplines and sectors.

• Co-location of higher-education institute (HEI), industrialand international science and technology programmes.

• Act as primary catalyst for innovation

Priorities

• To engage fully with key stakeholders includingother Research Councils, universities, TSB andour academic community to ensure their success

• To provide commercialisation services designed todeliver professional and efficient interactions withcommercial customers

• To provide effective exploitation of intellectualproperty

Discussion

• How do we fairly prioritise research areas? Peer review?• What are the most important fields of research?• How do we measure the success of a field of research?• Timescales for assessments and associated costs• Can we really compare the value of curiosity and

application-driven research?• Are specialised campuses the best platform for

innovation?• What is the value of knowledge?