—  promoting opportunities and stimulating the participation of UK researchers and UK business

—  encouraging the adoption of good practice in the funding, delivery and exploitation of research

—  supporting greater cooperation and integration between European national research funding bodies

—  participation in research through research council institutes

  41.  These responsibilities are addressed through a variety of means and approaches, including discussed below.

Dialogue with OSI and direct engagement with FP management and decision making structures

  42.   The objectives of Framework Programmes are set out in the EU Treaty of Amsterdam, which states that:

"The Community shall have the objective of strengthening the scientific and technological bases of Community industry and encouraging it to become more competitive at international level, while promoting all the research activities deemed necessary by virtue of other Chapters of this Treaty" (Article 163)

  43.  Due to the policy-led objectives of Framework Programmes, Government Departments lead on the majority of Framework negotiations, with overall activity coordinated by OSI. In FP7, as in the earlier FPs, the Research Councils play an important role in advising on the research which may be needed in areas of the Framework Programme to deliver the agreed policy objectives. This is achieved by working in partnership with OSI and the lead Government Department, or through the Research Councils representing UK interests on the relevant EU programme committee. For example:

—  In FP6, Research Council officials were part of the UK delegation on the following Programme Committees:

—  EPSRC on the EURATOM Fusion Programme Committee

—  ESRC on the Citizens and Governance and Science and Society Programme Committees

—  MRC on the Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health Programme Committee

—  NERC on the Global Change and Ecosystems Programme Committees

—  PPARC on the Research Infrastructures Programme Committee

—  UKRO on Programme Committee for Human Resources and Mobility

—  In FP6 BBSRC worked closely with Defra and FSA representation on the Food Quality and Safety Programme Management Committee, on issues such as topics to be covered in calls for proposals. This continues in FP7 for the Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnology programme

—  In FP6 EPSRC hosted the UK National Contact Point (NCP) for the New and Emerging Science and Technology (NEST) Programme. This involved managing a helpdesk and promoting the NEST programme within the UK research community through a programme of visits and conferences. The positive response to NEST from the UK academic community would indicate that this model of working was well received. NEST was innovative both in its emphasis on frontier research and its bottom-up driven model. As such, NEST could be considered a precursor to the ERC, but with a closer relationship to the Commission

—  FP7 now includes humanities explicitly in the cooperation programme for the first time. Consequently, AHRC represents the UK (together with ESRC) on the FP7 Social Sciences and Humanities Programme Committee. Through this forum, AHRC has been successful in pressing for a more humanities-friendly programme specification. Other Research Council involvements includes MRC on the Health Programme Committee

—  In FP7, NERC worked closely with environmental scientists in its Institutes and more widely, with OSI and Defra (the UK policy lead on FP Environment Programme negotiations) to influence the content of FP7's Environment (including Climate Change) Theme; NERC sits on the Environment (including Climate Change) Programme Management Committee). In collaboration with Defra and the EC Environment Directorate General, NERC co-funded a joint FP7 Energy and Environment Themes launch in 2006, timed to immediately precede the start of FP7

—  In FP7, UKRO is the nominated expert on the "People" Committee and frequently attend other Programme Committee meetings as nominated experts

—  In FP7, STFC will continue the role formerly undertaken by PPARC on the Research Infrastructures Programme Committee

UKRO

  44.  The UK Research Office (UKRO) promotes effective UK participation in EU-funded research programmes, higher education programmes, and other related activities. See http://www.ukro.ac.uk/about/index.htm.

  45.  UKRO is funded by the Research Councils (with BBSRC as the managing agent) and also by subscriber organisations, some 140 at present. Any UK HEI, charity or public sector research organisation can subscribe to UKRO; with associate membership (restricted services) available to companies and non-UK research organisations. Defra, the Food Standards Agency and the Health and Safety Laboratory of the HSE also have subscriptions to UKRO, as do Universities UK, the British Council, HEFCE and the Scottish Funding Council.

  46.  UKRO's mission is to promote effective UK participation in EU-funded research programmes, higher education programmes, and other related activities by:

—  supporting sponsors and subscribers through early insight and briefing on developments in European programmes and policies;

—  disseminating timely and targeted information on EU funding opportunities;

—  providing high quality advice, guidance and training on applying for and managing EU projects; and

—  exchanging information between the UK research and higher education community, the Institutions of the European Union, and other countries participating in EU programmes

  47.  Annex J summarises the work of UKRO, including its services and policy support, and its relationship with the OSI International Directorate, and other UK and European bodies.

Framework Programme Network (FPN)

  48.  Research Councils and UKRO are members of OSI's Framework Programme Network, which brings together Government Departments, the Research Councils and the RDAs to discuss common issues about the policy and delivery of FPs.

National Contact Points (NCPs)

  49.  The policy leads appointed for each part of the Framework Programme are responsible for delivering the UK National Contact Point, to raise awareness amongst potential participants in the UK of opportunities and funding available under the respective area of the Framework. In some instances this is routinely contracted out. Under FP6 and increasingly FP7, the Research Councils are increasingly taking on the policy lead and this NCP role—although OSI retains a coordinating, cross-cutting role which works well.

For example under FP6:

—  BBSRC, together with the Food Standards Agency and Defra, provided the UK National Contact Point for the FP6 thematic programme Food Quality and Safety, co-funding a launch event for the theme in London, and advising on scientific issues in the programme. This continues for the relevant part of FP7

—  ESRC provided the NCP for the thematic programme on Citizens and Government and Science in Society

—  MRC provided the NCP for health academics

—  UKRO provided the NCP for the Mobility Programme (under contract from the OSI policy lead)

—  PPARC provided the NCP for the Research Infrastructures Programme

For FP7:

—  MRC is the NCP for health academics

—  UKRO is the NCP for the European Research Council and Mobility programmes in FP7 under contract from the OSI policy lead

  50.  Discussions are underway with OSI for the Research Councils to also take on the NCPs for Science in Society and Research Infrastructures for FP7.

  51.  Additionally, some Research Councils offer additional support to encourage engagement with FPs. For example:

—  BBSRC travel schemes are often used to build consortia for FP proposals

—  ESRC runs a competition to offer seed money to ESRC award holders aiming to lead major European research collaborations.

—  MRC provides resources for its Units and Institutes to assist in the preparation and coordination of FP proposals

—  NERC set up an incentive fund to stimulate leadership for FP6 from within its Institutes

—  EPSRC makes available travel funds to UK researchers to enable them to build consortia to bid for Framework funding

European Research Area Networks (ERA-NETs)

  52.  ERA-NETs are a FP6 funding instrument designed to promote cooperation and co-planning between funders of national research programmes (for the UK, government departments, agencies and/or Research Councils). The scheme, particularly the ERA-NET Plus scheme, is advantageous in attracting EU research funds to bolster national research priorities. The Research Councils have also found ERA-NETs of value as a means for sustained and structured information exchange between European funders and for sharing good practice and improving operational effectiveness. An independent review of the scheme, published in December 2006, identified similar benefits, and the need for more top-down focus and coordination in FP7. RCUK is pleased that ERA-NETs are being maintained and expanded in FP7 as a means for strengthening the European Research Area, but would emphasise that different European research communities are at different stages of maturity and degrees of connectivity and that one size does not fit all.

  53.  The Research Councils are currently involved in more than 20 ERA-NETs including:

—  AHRC is a member of Humanities in the European Research Area (HERA) ERA-NET, which includes 14 other European agencies and ministries. Two agreed trans-national research programmes will operate using single pot funding, removing bureaucratic obstacles to European research collaboration and avoiding double jeopardy

—  BBSRC is a lead in ERA-NET schemes in plant genomics (11 partner countries, BBSRC £5.2 million) and systems biology (14 partner countries, BBSRC £6 million), publishing joint calls for proposals with EU partners. As a result, BBSRC enjoys closer relations with, and greater understanding of, its European counterparts

—  EPSRC is involved in 6 ERA-NETs, including Bio-energy, Applied Catalysis, and Nanoscience in the European Research Area

—  ESRC helped to develop, and now plays a leading role in, the 12-nation NORFACE ERA-NET (New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Collaboration in Europe). NORFACE is developing possible themes for a major trans-national research programme to start in 2008. ESRC are also partners in a Dutch-led ERA-NET on social aspects of Genomics

—  MRC is a partner in the EUROCAN+ study looking at the feasibility of coordinating national cancer research activities

—  NERC participates in 6 ERA-NETs, including Innovative Energy Research, the European Consortium for Ocean Drilling Research, and the EU Water Initiative

—  PPARC participated in 2 ERA-NETs, ASTRONET and Aspera

Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs)

  54.  Under FP7 the Commission is launching JTIs, which will emerge from some of the European Technology Platforms. These will pool funding from the private sector, European and national research programmes towards common research goals in priority technology areas. FP7 identifies six possible areas, with the UK strongly supporting the proposed JTI on Innovative Medicines. MRC was involved in provisional planning for the UK to host the secretariat of the Innovative Medicines Initiative in partnership with the DTI which leads the UK IMI consultative group. MRC represents the UK on the IMI member states contact group and keeps the UK stakeholders up dated on ongoing developments.

Article 169 programmes

  55.  MRC represents the UK at the general assembly of the first European Programme established in FP6 under the terms of Article 169—the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). The aims of this initiative are to accelerate the development of effective, affordable and sustainable interventions against infectious diseases related to poverty (specifically HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria) by improving co-ordination and co-operation between European public sector and private sector research organisations and research institutions in Africa. This is an area that requires coordinated activity to provide clinical trials in a sustainable research environment in Africa. More information is at Annex F.

European Research Council (ERC)

  56.  From the outset, RCUK has been closely involved in discussions with OSI about the creation of the ERC. The Research Councils have always taken the view that there is a strong case for developing cooperation and integration between research funders in Europe, but has cautioned against additional bureaucracy and complexity in research funding. With the decision to proceed with the ERC, the Councils have sought to influence its structure and mode of operation to ensure the application of scientific rigor and good practice. Chief Executives agreed advice for OSI which was subsequently used by the UK team in these negotiations.

  57.  RCUK welcomes the governance model adopted, including the creation of the Scientific Council with a significant degree of autonomy from the European Commission, European Parliament and Council and individual Member States. Councils have been meeting individually with members of the ERC Science Council and the Chair has been invited to meet collectively with Research Council Chief Executives to discuss how top UK researchers can be encouraged to seek funding from the ERC.

  58.  The Research Councils support the aims of the ERC; it should support the very best researchers and research projects. Given the concerns voiced by participants about the complexity of accessing FP research funds, the Councils have pressed for a simple application and assessment process, based on rigorous peer review of research excellence. The Councils have also emphasised the need for some form of demand management to ensure that success rates are reasonable and that the administrative arm of the ERC is not overwhelmed with applications. The measures taken to date by the Science Council, including the use of outlines, limiting resubmissions, funding arrangements, and portability of awards, all bode well for an effective and robust pan-European funding system.

  59.  The debate now is with regards to how the ERC evolves. The Research Councils are keen to ensure that the ERC will add value to national research activities, and neither duplicate nor undermine national agenda eg by any top slicing of the UK Science Budget. One option Councils would like to encourage is funding of teams of trans-national researchers. UKRO is the UK national contact point for ERC and attends the Programme Committee as an expert.

European Institute of Technologies (EIT)

  60.  The proposed EIT is intended to help strengthen innovation performance across the European Research Area, by building new bridges between research users, HEIs and other research institutions. As set out in commission communiques, it is intended that the EIT will set up strategic long term partnerships between the various players in the knowledge transfer arena. A Governing Board will determine strategic priorities and select, evaluate and coordinate "Knowledge and Innovation Communities", joint ventures between businesses, universities and research organisations. Discussions about the EIT are on-going with the aim of establishment in 2008, with the first Knowledge and Innovation Communities running by 2010.

  61.  Whilst the Research Councils fully support the need to strengthen knowledge transfer in the UK and across the European Research Area, there are a number of significant uncertainties and concerns regarding the EIT proposals. The main issues include:

—  The added value to, and incentive for, HEIs and business of participating in the EIT is unclear

—  The organisational and governance structure of the EIT and its relationship with the European Commission etc is unclear

—  The need to address IPR issues in detail to encourage universities and business to participate in the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (experience in the UK shows differences of opinion over the value, ownership and protection of IPR remains barrier to HEI-business collaboration, even with the introduction of standard contracts following the Lambert Report)

—  The relationship between the EIT and existing national and European knowledge transfer initiatives is unclear eg Networks of Excellence under FP6, the ERC and the new FP7 Joint Technology Initiatives. In the UK is there is a specific need to clarify the relationship between the EIT and the Technology Strategy Board

—  The legal status, role and aims of Knowledge and Innovation Communities is unclear

—  There is no clear budget for the EIT or allocated funding. The proposals assume that a large proportion (up to 85%) of the support will come from the private sector—although at present there is limited incentive for businesses to become involved

—  UK businesses continue to report concerns about the level of bureaucracy as a reason for not engaging in Framework Programmes

  62.  Until these issues are addressed the Research Councils remain cautious about the plans for the EIT. On behalf of RCUK, UKRO is coordinating the Councils' inputs to OSI and relevant European forums to influence the shape of the EIT, particularly to minimise the bureaucracy and ensure that UK researchers and business are able to benefit from the resulting initiative.

Participation in previous and current FPs

  63.  During discussions about the development of FP6 and then FP7, the Research Councils have been keen to emphasise a number of important aspects in seeking to influence the European agenda. Issues have included:

—  ensuring that thematic priority areas and research objectives are well defined so that resources are not spread too thinly and that real progress can be made in the chosen areas

—  the need to do more to address the fragmentation of some areas of research effort across the European Research Area, through better networking

—  pressing the Commission to allow for adequate consultation with Member States about the development of research priorities and new funding instruments

—  making it easier for researchers and businesses to apply for FP funding

—  minimising bureaucracy in establishing new European funding instruments and institutes (eg ERC and EIT as outlined above)

—  making it easier for non-EU countries to joint FP partnerships

  64.  Research Councils and UKRO invested a great deal of effort to alert the UK community to the new modes of funding under FP6 and the expected requirements to secure funding. As well as launch events, the Research Councils have provided practical and in some cases financial help for consortium building, and UKRO operated a partner search service in conjunction with similar Member State research offices. The European Commission has also provided timely information through its websites, and on-line partner search facilities, and officials have participated in national and regional information events. For FP6 the application forms have been simplified and the electronic application software for FP6 is a significant improvement to the much criticised FP5 system. RCUK, through UKRO, has ensured that the UK research community has been fully involved in the design and testing of the new system.

  65.  OSI statistics show that the UK continues to secure more funding through competitive bids to Framework Programmes than it pays through UK membership of the EU, and in FP6 the UK's performance in securing funding was second only to Germany. Although the overall picture is healthy, there is a decline in the level of return. Statistics also show a low level of participation by UK businesses. The Research Council's private sector stakeholders suggest that this is in part due to increasing complexity, the lack of flexibility in building collaborations (a particular challenge for SMEs) and the overall level of bureaucracy. Discussions in various RCUK forums indicate that there are different concerns in different parts of the UK research base, and that large companies and SME also have their own issues.

  66.  As part of FP7, the Commission will be introducing further improvements to the administrative process including a simpler registration procedure and reduced audit requirements. It is hoped that these measures will go some way to address the UK's concerns. Additionally, the Global Science and Innovation Forum have been exploring the options for better aligning regional, national and European activities and making better use of existing UK networks to increase business engagement.

European Heads of Research Councils (EUROHORCs)

  67.  EUROHORCs brings together the heads of the major public national funding organisations across Europe. It is an active player in the field of European research policy, aiming to promote and enhance inter-country cooperation and serving as an advisory body for the European commission. The Chief Executives of the Research Councils are all members of EUROHORCs and the Chief Executive of MRC represents RCUK interests on the EUROHORCs steering committee. More information is at: http://www.eurohorcs.org/

Research Infrastructures

  68.  The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) supports a coherent approach to policy-making on research infrastructures in Europe, and acts as an incubator for international negotiations about specific projects. The Research Councils represent UK interests on ESFRI. It is chaired, in an independent capacity, by Professor John Wood, Director International Affairs for the Science and Technology Facilities Council. UK representation is being reviewed in light of the establishment of the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

  69.  The ESRFI roadmap was published in October 2006. It describes the scientific need for a range of research infrastructures for the European Research Area over the next 10-20 years (excluding infrastructure projects in the field of high energy physics which appear in the CERN and ESA roadmaps). The Councils have identified potential UK interest in each of the projects and advised OSI accordingly, and are developing a coordinated approach to engagement, including determining which, if any, of the projects the UK might want to host.

THE ROLE AND SUCCESS OF RESEARCH COUNCILS IN FACILITATING UK PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL (NON-FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME) PROGRAMMES

  70.  The Research Councils are responsible for facilitating UK participation in other, non-FP, international programmes through a wide variety of means, including payment of international subscriptions on behalf of the UK, hosting international facilities and international project offices, representing the UK academic community on key international forums, leading or belonging to major international networks and providing key personnel for the steering committees of international programmes. These activities help to ensure that the UK is part of large-scale research endeavour and that UK researchers can benefit from the use of facilities and opportunities open to them. Directly and indirectly, these efforts also raise the international profile of the Research Councils, which helps to forge strategic partnerships and alliances, and contribute to the UK being a partner of choice for research collaborations.

  71.  There are many examples of this involvement given in the individual Research Councils annexes, and the Research Councils lead for the UK in its membership of major intergovernmental collaborations such as the European particle physics laboratory (CERN), the European Space Agency and the European Southern Observatory. A selection of major international programmes highlighted here:

—  the European Science Foundation (ESF)

—  CERN

—  the European Southern Observatory

—  Human Frontier Sciences Program

—  European Molecular Biology Laboratory/European Bioinformatics Institute

—  Fusion research

—  Fostering Collaboration in the Social Sciences

—  Research vessels

—  Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme

—  European Space Agency

European Science Foundation & EUROCORES

  72.  All of the Research Councils and the British Academy are members of the European Science Foundation (ESF), a pan-European association of scientific organisations, which seeks to facilitate European cooperation through networking and various collaborative initiatives. Within the UK there is also a UKESF Coordinating Group facilitated by ESRC; the MRC Chief Executive represents RCUK Executive Group on the Governing Council of ESF.

  73.  Under the ESF framework Member Organisations benefit from opportunities to participate in the joint funding of trans-national programmes, forward looks, and funding for the community for research networking (Research Networking Programmes). A major scheme is EUROCORES, which brings together national research funding organisations to support interdisciplinary research in selected priority themes, thereby opening new horizons in science. Research Councils have previously expressed concern about the standards of peer review being applied and the ESF have made improvements in this direction; although EUROCORES is a useful mechanism in promoting European research collaboration, it is felt that there is scope for improvement in the operation and timescales for each round. EUROCORES have been evaluated by an independent agency and proposals for future development are being discussed by EuroHORCS and the Governing Council of ESF. Current UK engagement includes:

—  AHRC is involved in EUROCORES programmes on the Origins of Man and Language and Consciousness in a Natural and Cultural Context. Research Network Programmes with UK components include Associated Chronologies of the Ancient Near East and From Natural Philosophy to Science

—  EPSRC is supporting five programmes (including European Quantum Standards and Metrology, Smart Structural Systems Technologies and Fundamentals of Nano-electronics) with a total portfolio worth £3 million

CERN

  74.  Understanding the origins of matter and developing theories towards possible unification of all particles and forces, including gravity, is an enormous undertaking. World-class particle physics and astronomy can usually only be achieved through international partnerships to share the cost of investment and to have a community of researchers large enough to undertake the experiments.

  75.  The European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) is the world's leading centre for particle physics research. CERN employs almost 3000 people and some 6500 visiting scientists, half of the world's particle physicists, come to CERN for their research. Through STFC the UK is an important partner in CERN and membership ensures UK particle physics researchers have access to the best facilities and opportunities possible.

  76.  The highest priority in particle physics in the next two years will be the completion of the construction, and the commissioning of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and its detectors at CERN. UK groups are playing leading roles in all four detectors for the LHC.

European Southern Observatory

  77.  In July 2002 the UK became a member of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). Membership has enabled UK astronomers to have full access to the four 8-metre-class telescopes that comprise ESO's Very Large Telescope. The UK's membership of ESO will also enable it to play a major role in the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) project—an array of 64, 12-metre radio telescopes.

  78.  Membership of ESO helps enable the UK to remain one of the leading nations in astronomical research and in addition to having access to some of the world's most advanced telescopes it will help enable UK researchers to play a major role in future developments.

Human Frontiers Science Program

  79.  BBSRC and MRC pay the UK subscription to the Human Frontiers Science Program, which funds collaborative international research grants and fellowships into the complex mechanisms of living organisms. To encourage new approaches to understanding complex biological systems, HFSP brings biologists together with scientists from physics, mathematics, chemistry, computer science, bioinformatics, nanoscience and engineering. Many EU member states are involved together with Japan, Australia, Canada and the USA. More recently India, South Korea and New Zealand joined the Program. The UK contributes about 3.5% of the HFSP budget. In 2006 the UK received 9.5% of the research grants awarded and 6% of the long-term fellowships and remains a net beneficiary of the programme.

European Molecular Biology Laboratory/European Bioinformatics Institute

  80.  MRC pays the UK subscription for the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), which carries out fundamental research and promotes co-operation between European countries in the field of molecular biology. It also provides essential services to scientists in EU member states, provides high-level training for staff, students and visitors, and develops new instruments for biological research. One of EMBL's laboratories is the European Bioinformatics Institute in Cambridge. It hosts the world's largest collection of expertise on genomics and bioinformatics. MRC and BBSRC provide significant additional funding. EPSRC and BBSRC support the development of grid-based projects. This is an extremely valuable resource for the bioscience research community and is an example of effective international cooperation.

Fusion research

  81.  The international fusion programme is on the verge of taking the first step towards the development of a first fusion plant with the construction of the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER). ITER represents a major development in international research collaboration, whose partners are the EU, China, Japan, Korea, Russia and the US. The UK's fusion research programme will develop in such a way as to ensure optimum alignment with the ITER project.

Fostering collaboration in the Social Sciences

  82.  Fostering Collaboration in the Social Sciences is a major initiative co-funded by ESRC and the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and managed by the Social Science Research Council in New York. It brings together around 40 national and multi-national agencies from all continents to explore ways to enhance co-working in social and economic research. Six strands of activity have been identified as priorities and ESRC is leading the International Data Forum strand, which will be launched at a workshop in Beijing in June 2007. This will be a tangible sign of global UK leadership.

Research vessels

  83.  NERC provides three ocean-going research vessels with associated specialist oceanographic equipment. Over the past five years, 50% of NERC's research cruises have involved collaboration with international scientists, from 49 institutions and 17 countries. NERC is also heavily involved in ship-time bartering, which has grown markedly since 2000 to a point where NERC now exchanges approximately 200 barter days per year. NERC has a ship/marine facilities barter agreement with France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the USA (NSF).

Integrated Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP)

  84.  Participation in IODP allows UK scientists to influence and benefit directly from more than $1.5 billion investment in drilling platforms and their operation, in order to undertake research to improve climate change predictions. NERC is investing £12.5 million in IODP through membership of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) comprising 16 European nations plus Canada. ECORD is a partner in IODP alongside the NSF and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

European Space Agency (ESA)

  85.  NERC provides the UK's subscription (-£34 million per annum) to ESA's environmental sciences programmes (EOEP), and Envisat/ERS operations, and a share of the UK's subscription to the general budget (around £7 million per annum). EOEP funds the development and operation of Earth explorer science missions, providing earth observation data in support of environmental sciences. NERC engagement helps to assure scientific excellence in the mission selection and maximise scientific benefits for the UK's environmental sciences community. Please see Research Councils recent evidence to the Committee on the Space Policy inquiry for further information.

EFFECTIVENESS OF COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN RESEARCH COUNCILS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

  86.  As outlined above, the Global Science and Innovation Forum (GSIF) is the primary means for the Research Councils to influence the Government's international science and technology agenda, and to work at the high level with the other major players across Government and others including the British Council and Royal Society. The paragraphs below cover the Councils major relationships with OSI and other Government Departments. Equally importantly, the Councils work closely with Universities UK on international issues, and it is anticipated that their new International Team will work closely with RCUK.

OSI and OSI International

  87.  The Research Councils work individually and collectively with OSI on a number of levels, particularly with the OSI International Directorate. The engagement is regular and highly varied. Research Council representatives are invited to join UK delegations to priority countries, which helps to further high-level dialogue with overseas funders and government agencies, Councils also routinely provide inputs and representation to Ministerial visits and activities (eg G8 agendas, bilateral meetings).

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

  88.  Although the Research Councils' experience of working with the FCO Science and Innovation (S&I) Network is largely positive; we are identifying areas for improvement. Research Councils use individual S&I Network contacts informally to inform their international strategy development and have found the S&IN contacts in country extremely valuable when organising visits for Chief Executives and senior academics from the UK. The local knowledge and contacts that these posts provide has proved invaluable in brokering high-level meetings between the players, opening the door for discussions about collaborative agreements and collaborative research. This is particularly the case in Asia where there are significant cultural differences and research relationships are less mature. For example, MRC's visits to South East Asia to explore potential research on avian flu was greatly facilitated by the local FCO S&I Network team, resulting in the establishment of an MoU with the Beijing Municipal S&T Commission to cooperate on research about emerging infections. Likewise, the FCO's regular regional S&I Network conferences are valued by Research Council staff as they provide a good opportunity to exchange information with Network contacts.

  89.  Research Councils have formal input to FCO business planning, advising on the draft business plans of each member of the S&IN. For 2007-08 this was coordinated through BBSRC.

  90.  In developing their plans for RCUK international offices, the Research Councils are working very closely with the S&I Network teams in China, Washington and India, who have provided invaluable guidance, advice and practical support.

  91.  Although the Research Councils have collaborated successfully with the FCO on specific projects (eg AHRC is providing financial and intellectual support to the FCO Year of Science in Brazil and BBSRC has collaborated with the S&I Network working with British Embassy Tokyo on structural genomics and the British High Commission New Delhi on biotechnology), the Research Councils have found that some country specific initiatives developed by the FCO team would have benefited from earlier dialogue with the Councils and other stakeholders about potential levels of interest and available resources, and also better planning in terms of delivery. AHRC has experienced particular difficulties in utilising its S&I Network as there is a lack of coverage of arts and humanities research issues by science attaches. Regular attendance of FCO representatives at the Research Councils International Network meetings helps to address communications issues and the recent appointment by the FCO of a specific stakeholder manager for the Research Councils is welcome. Further RCUK/ S&I Network discussion could enable the better achievement of mutual aims through multilateral organisations and networks.

  92.  Conversely, the Research Councils are aware that some S&I Network contacts have experienced difficulties in obtaining comprehensive information about Research Councils interactions with particular countries or sectors, and that consistency of information has also been an issue. The Research Councils are working together to put in place more robust means for gathering and verifying information on international activities. The new RCUK international team is expected to play a specific role in this regard.

Department for International Development

  93.  The UK research base can make an important contribution to helping the poorest countries meet the Millennium Development Goals and all Research Councils (with the exception of STFC) contribute to the research base for international development, and to the training of scientists and technicians from developing countries.

  94.  Building on the recommendations made by the Development Sciences Working Group, DfID established the UK Collaborative on Development Sciences in 2006 to provide a framework for a more coordinated approach to development sciences research in the UK. RCUK will be represented by BBSRC, ESRC, MRC and NERC as appropriate and in addition, he Wellcome Trust hosts the Collaborative's Secretariat team with HR support from BBSRC. RCUK is fully supportive of the Collaborative and will work with DfID and other partners (including OSI, DH, Wellcome Trust, HEFCE, UUK) to realise the aims of the partnership, including raising the profile of development sciences research and strengthening linkages with Framework Programmes.

  95.  Other collaborative international activities with DfID include:

—  Joint DfID and BBSRC £6 million call for proposals to translate UK research on crop science into practical solutions and benefits in the developing world.

—  BBSRC provides input to DFID lead on CIGAR (International Agri-Food Research Institutes in the developing world)

—  ESRC-DfID co-fund a £13 million programme on Poverty Alleviation, which supports high-quality basic research projects led by researchers anywhere in the world, to underpin efforts to alleviate poverty. The successful launch of this programme has led to a further co-funded programme with the US William & Flora Hewlett Foundation to enhance the quality and impact of social science research addressing the key international development issue of how population dynamics and reproductive health outcomes impact economic growth and poverty reduction

—  MRC has a concordat with DFID to facilitate development research in Africa. Under the five year agreement (which has been renewed twice following external evaluation since being established in 1993) MRC receives £4 million per annum to support an agreed portfolio of research projects. In addition to the activities supported under this concordat MRC and DFID have jointly collaborated on funding a number of important studies in Africa, including studies on the best methods for distributing antiretroviral drugs to adults and children with AIDS in Africa. MRC has established a Funders' Forum with DFID, Wellcome Trust and ESRC to address issues of health research in developing countries. The Forum enables UK funders to work together and position themselves in relation to new international initiatives

—  NERC has a long history of working closely with DfID, and is currently working with them and ESRC on a new joint research programme on Ecosystems Services and Poverty Alleviation

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

  96.  Engagement with Defra on international issues is primarily within the remits of BBSRC and NERC. At policy level, BBSRC supports Defra in the annual Tetrapartite meetings, the annual agri-food research and policy forum involving USA, Canada, France and the UK. BBSRC also supports Defra in its lead on representing the UK in the EU's Standing Committee for Agricultural Research (SCAR), which was particularly effective in ensuring appropriate coverage of agricultural and related research in FP7. Other examples are at Annex B.

Department of Health

  97.  MRC works closely with the Department of Health and has a concordat that ensures that research activities are complementary and cover the UK's health needs without duplication. On international issues the concordat with DH further clarifies that MRC will take the lead on behalf of the Department and DTI on EU framework programmes for health and that both parties will work together to promote mutual international research interests including global health.

IMPACT OF RESEARCH COUNCILS' POLICIES ON THE INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY OF RESEARCHERS

  98.  In an increasingly competitive international market the Research Councils and other funders are keen to maximise the mobility of students and researchers, both to and from the UK. International mobility of researchers helps to share expertise and cross-fertilise ideas, and enables UK researchers to benefit from international training and development programmes. Furthermore, researcher mobility underpins cross-disciplinary activities that may be difficult to achieve within a single country, contributes to the sustainability of basic disciplines, and helps research to address international development challenges.

  99.  The RCUK `Strategy for Research Careers' sets out the Councils' aspirations for enhancing the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for the best researchers. The forthcoming RCUK international strategy articulates the need promote the movement of researchers and students to and from the UK—both to contribute to the Government's agenda of making the UK one of the best places in the world to undertake research and to help UK researchers seize opportunities for working overseas.

  100.  The Research Councils support international mobility in a variety of ways, including postgraduate training in another country, individual research fellowships, visiting fellowships, overseas travel grants, networks of researchers and through collaboration on grants. Many of these activities are undertaken at the research subject level, and are therefore delivered most effectively through individual Councils and their research strategies, although Councils continue to review and develop collective policies and approaches where appropriate. The sections below focus on students and individual fellowship awards. Information on travel awards and enabling mobility to stimulate new research collaborations is provided earlier in the submission.

European Framework Programme mobility activities

  101.  The UK has also been successful in Framework mobility programmes, with approximately 30% of all EU fellowships held in the UK . This section focuses primarily on students, and awards to individuals. Research Councils support for international visits and collaborative research are outlined earlier in the document.

  102.  UK engagement in FP Researcher Mobility activities is largely co-ordinated through UKRO. The Research Careers and Diversity Unit of RCUK works closely with UKRO, and with OSI, to ensure that Government policy is fully represented in their activities. UKRO is a key support provider for the main EU funding initiatives concerning researcher mobility and is formally contracted by OSI to be the National Contact Point for the Marie Curie Actions (funded under FP5/6 and 7). Marie Curie Actions remain popular with UK researchers and are an important aspect of EU policy on researcher career development, mobility and cooperation.

  103.  UKRO is also a UK delegate on the FP7 "People" Programme Management Committee alongside the OSI. UKRO plays a key enabling role in informing the HE sector with regard to mobility of researchers and the relevant EU funding opportunities. RCUK provides the UK delegate to the DG Research Steering Group for Human Resources and Mobility—UKRO provides a nominated expert as necessary. The steering group advises DG Research on the wider policy issues related to human resources and mobility in the context of the Lisbon agenda.

  104.  RCUK and UKRO are working together to influence the developing guidelines for the co-funding of national fellowship schemes planned as part of FP7. Through this scheme the Research Councils anticipate that many more Research Fellows—many of whom are likely to be research leaders in future—will be able to gain experience of working abroad during the course of their fellowships. It is anticipated that a call will be issued for this scheme later in 2007.

The Bologna Process

  105.  The Bologna process aims to create a European higher education area by making academic degrees, and accompanying quality assurance, more comparable across the EU. Although mobility in itself is not a responsibility of the Research Councils, RCUK is aware of the benefits that can accrue from researchers who have experienced education and research in other countries.

  106.  The Research Councils have, through the RCUK Research Careers and Diversity Unit, taken steps to engage fully with the development of the doctoral cycle of Bologna. RCUK has been represented at the official Bologna Process seminars on Doctoral Programmes in Europe and has co-operated strongly with the UK Higher Education Sector Europe Unit with the overall objective of maintaining the position of the UK as an attractive destination for doctoral studies and to continue to ensure the high quality of its doctoral graduates. RCUK assisted the Europe Unit in producing a co-ordinated view from the UK HE sector on the doctoral cycle A key outcome of that collaboration was publication by the Europe Unit of a briefing note outlining the UK position and highlighting examples of UK good practice with regard to 10 key areas of doctoral education.

The European Charter and Code for Researchers

  107.  The European Commission has adopted the European Charter and Code for Researchers as key elements to make research an attractive career in the EU. RCUK believes that for the UK to demonstrate that it is fully engaged with the European Higher Education Area and ERA, it important to show that the UK is supportive of the principles of the Charter and Code. In co-operation with UUK and sector representatives, RCUK has undertaken a gap analysis which has demonstrated that in most cases the UK already meets the requirements of the Charter and Code.

  108.  The Charter and Code will be linked formally into UK guidance when the new Concordat for Research Staff—of which RCUK is leading in the development—is published in late 2007. RCUK will also continue to engage, together with the HE sector, in constructive dialogue with the European Commission to take forward these principles in order to make the UK and Europe a more attractive place for researchers.

A European Network on Research Careers

  109.  The Research Careers and Diversity Unit of RCUK is a key partner in a proposal—led by DFG from Germany—to establish formally a European Network on Research Careers under the auspices of the European Science Foundation. The forum will serve as a joint platform for the exchange of views and experiences and for the development of strategy concepts. It will involve experts from national Research Councils, the European Research Council, the European Commission and the European University Association. The long-term goals will be to create or improve programmes aimed at promoting different career stages and to work on marketing campaigns to raise the international visibility of the ERA in the global competition for research talents.

PROMOTE THE MOVEMENT OF NON-EU RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS TO AND FROM THE UK

Studentships

  110.  It is a key aim of the Research Councils that the UK should produce internationally competitive postgraduates. The Research Councils collectively support 15,500 (mostly full-time) doctoral students of whom approximately 12% are from other EU member states. The Research Councils provide support for a limited number of non-UK students through sponsorship and the operation of the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate awards and through project studentships driven by the needs of peer-reviewed research projects. The Councils aim to assist the universities to improve the quality of UK doctoral programmes and to enhance the international attractiveness of UK research training noting that the HE sector is already an attractive destination for non-UK doctoral students. Of 58,000 full time doctoral students in 2004-05 48% are non-UK and 14% are from other EU member states—in addition of 54,000 part-time doctoral students 33% are non-UK and 11% are from other EU member states.

  111.  Individual Council activities include:

—  AHRC, in collaboration with ESRC, makes Library of Congress Scholarships available to UK doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and research assistants who wish to pursue a course of study for a short period in the US

—  ESRC offers all its postgraduate studentship awardees a three-month paid extension to undertake an overseas visit relevant to the studentship

—  MRC recently signed a MoU with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore to enable Singapore PhD students to work in MRC Units in the UK. A*STAR is expecting to send around half of its overseas PhD students to the UK

—  NERC encourages PhD students on NERC awards to undertake collaborative fieldwork overseas, and provides an extra £600k per year funding for this purpose

—  Due to the nature of the research supported, PPARC has always had a significant amount of international mobility amongst its research community. The majority of PPARC PhD students spent a significant period (up to 2 years) of their studentship overseas

  112.  The Research Councils support the Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate scheme which brings outstanding students from India, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and the developing world to come and study for PhDs in top rated UK research facilities. This scheme is seen as a success and HEIs like it but challenges remain in finding industrial partners to match Research Council funding.

  113.  In addition the Councils are continuing to explore removing the eligibility barrier for PhD stipends for non-UK EU students on a discretionary basis by Council.

Fellowships

  114.  The fellowships offered by the Research Councils have world-wide visibility and significant recognition within their target subject communities both in the UK and beyond. The majority of the fellowships are open to UK and overseas candidates regardless of nationality, and are assessed in competition with each other. Many Research Council Fellowships have a strong international element as international collaboration is actively encouraged as part of the process of building an international reputation; many awards include the option to undertake research training outside the UK. A survey of Fellow's nationalities suggests that, depending upon the discipline, between 20% and 50% of all Research Council Fellows are non-UK nationals.

  115.  Individual Research Councils activities include:

—  BBSRC's five-year postdoctoral fellowships (David Phillips Fellowships) are available to the very best scientists whatever their country of origin. In the past five years 43% have been awarded to non-UK nationals to be taken up in UK Institutions

—  The EPSRC Life Sciences Interface programme runs an annual Overseas Post Doctoral Fellowships Exercise. A key aim of the scheme is to allow physical sciences or engineering researchers, who wish to work at the life sciences interface, time in leading international research laboratories

—  MRC fellowship schemes allow both clinical and non-clinical fellows to work for 1-2 years overseas and Fellowships can be held full time in one of MRC's overseas Units. MRC also have an agreement with the Wellcome Trust over Fellows wishing to work in their overseas Units and vice-versa

—  the agencies to which MRC pays subscriptions such as Human Frontiers Science Programme, European Molecular Biology Organisation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, all support fellowships that facilitate international movement

—  PPARC's postdoctoral fellowship scheme enables Fellows to spend an extended period of the fellowship at a university overseas. During the course of their fellowship, many fellows spend a significant period on research at overseas facilities/experiments

Money follows researcher scheme

  116.  All of the Research Councils have signed up to the "money follows researcher"" initiative developed by EUROHORCs. This scheme allows academics within Europe moving between institutions in different countries to take certain research grant funding with them when they move, promoting researcher mobility in Europe.

RCUK alumni scheme

  117.  RCUK is planning to launch an alumni scheme principally for overseas nationals holding Research Council fellowship awards. The scheme will be informed by improved information about Councils' fellowship holders, practices in alumni tracking used by universities and by the German Humboldt Fellowships Programme. RCUK will use the scheme to pilot activities/events designed to maintain the connections to UK research of those alumni who have gone abroad or returned home. Specific attention will be given to the key target countries (China, India etc). In implementing this, RCUK will continue to explore synergies with the schemes run by the Royal Society, RAEng and other funders.

April 2007

INTRODUCTION

  1.  AHRC became a research council on 1 April 2005 and published its first strategy for international engagement March 2006. The strategy built on a low level of international engagement which had been developed by its predecessor body (Arts and Humanities Research Board), principally participation in multilateral European funding mechanisms such as European Science Foundation (ESF) and the humanities ERA-NET initiative (HERA). In all other respects, the Council's international activities began ab initio. The international strategy covers the period 2006-08 (http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/about/international/international_ research_ policy.asp), and has three principal aims. The aims are as follows, together with examples of how the Council has implemented them:

—  Facilitating access to other funding sources

In September 2006, AHRC signed a landmark agreement with NSF which facilitated the participation of UK researchers in its Human and Social Dynamics programme and other NSF programmes which overlap with AHRC remit. The agreement promotes UK-US collaboration while avoiding double jeopardy.

—  Fostering collaboration to improve the quality of funded research

AHRC provides funding for researchers to exchange ideas and expertise through its Research Networks and Workshops scheme. The scheme provides funding for the costs of workshops, conferences and symposia which are can be used to initiate and develop international links and act as a springboard for sustained collaboration. The scheme is targeted at building research capacity and relationships in countries and regions which are not well serviced by existing funding mechanisms. Increased funding is available for Networks and Workshops with those regions identified in the international strategy (see below). The scheme also draws in matching funding from counterpart agencies overseas to foster and enhance collaboration. In the past 6 months, AHRC has signed agreements with the National Science Council of Taiwan and the Korean Research Foundation which allow for joint funding of networks in the arts and humanities.

—  Improving operational effectiveness and evaluation through cooperation and sharing of best practice.

AHRC is committed to improving its peer review processes by learning from best practice and drawing on expertise from across the globe. The agreements with the National Science Council and Korean Research Foundation include provisions for sharing expertise in evaluation and peer review. HERA projects on best practice in European peer review have informed AHRC policy at a national level, for example in its participation in the Research Councils Review of Peer Review.

  2.  To maximise the benefit and impact of the Council's activities, the strategy focuses initially on 4 geographical regions: Europe, US, China Region and South Asia.

  3.  The location-specific nature of much arts and humanities research means that it may be as beneficial for sections of its research community to engage with areas such as Brazil or Tibet as much as Japan or Switzerland, for example. The breadth of its community's research interests, as well as its continuous evolution, demands a flexible framework for international engagement.

  4.  Nonetheless, where clear overlapping interests with other Research Councils have been identified, AHRC has found the framework provided by the RCUK umbrella to be very beneficial. This is true of individual collaboration—such as the AHRC/ESRC Anglo-French workshops co-funded by the CNRS—and collective collaboration, such as the RCUK office in Beijing.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EXISTING AHRC MECHANISMS AND ACTIVITIES TO MAINTAIN AND PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

  5.  The current portfolio of activities, and their relation to AHRC Strategic Plan, is shown in the table below.

Strategic Plan Aim	Activity	Country /region	Mechanism
1: To promote and support the production of world-class research in the arts and humanities	Networking	US China South Asia	Research Networks and Workshops (RNW) scheme RNW, RCUK Beijing Office RNW
		South Korea	MoU (KRF)
		Taiwan	MoU (NSC)
		Europe	European Science Foundation (ESF)
		France	Bilateral Workshops series (w/ ESRC)
		Brazil	FCO SIN Year of Science
1: To promote and support the production of world-class research in the arts and humanities	Co-funding	US Taiwan Europe Europe	MoU (NSF) MoU (NSC) ESF ERA-NET (HERA)
1: To promote and support the production of world-class research in the arts and humanities	Exchange of Expertise	Taiwan South Korea Europe	MoU (NSC) MoU (KRF) ERA-NET (HERA)
2. To promote and support world-class postgraduate training designed to equip graduates for research or other professional careers.	Researcher Mobility	US	Library of Congress placements
4. To raise the profile of arts and humanities research and to be an effective advocate for its social, cultural and economic significance.	Policy & Influence	Europe Europe Europe	Framework Programme Committee ESF Standing Committee ERA-NET

Strengths of AHRC approach

  6.  The strategy aims to facilitate international links by removing obstacles to collaboration and identifying strategic partners, while allowing the arts and humanities community to define its own research priorities and determine who they should collaborate with.

  7.  This approach to international collaboration avoids double jeopardy by seeking to establish a single application, peer review and decision-making process.

  8.  The strategy avoids ring-fencing funds for international activity. This approach (a) maximises the quality of funded international collaboration by ensuring that proposals compete with the best research nationally, and (b) places no limits on international activity other than normal budgetary constraints. The Council has reviewed existing international funding commitments (eg its participation in ESF EUROCORES scheme) to ensure this principle is enshrined in all international engagement.

  9.  In designating priority geographical areas to devote efforts and resources, AHRC has acknowledged the work carried out by the Global Science and Innovation Forum in identifying those countries where it serves UK strategic interests to develop closer research links. Consequently, the priority areas highlighted in the international strategy are closely aligned with GSIF priorities under the "Research Excellence" category.

Weaknesses of AHRC approach

  10.  Only signing agreements which avoid double jeopardy potentially constrains the range of potential partners available to the organisation.

  11.  The structure of S&T funding system in other countries means that there is often no clear counterpart funding agency in the humanities with whom the Council can enter into co-funding agreements. This, again, can constrain both the range and level of international engagement.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION THROUGH THE EU FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME (INCLUDING ERC AND ERA-NET)

Framework Programmes

  12.  AHRC believes that the European Commission has been slow to recognise the contribution humanities research can make to economic growth and policy. FP4 (1994-98) provided limited scope for social science research for the first time. Since then the political evolution of the European Union and the prospect of major enlargement has meant a greater role for social sciences and humanities. In FP6 (2002-2006) the co-operation programme featured a theme on "Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge-based Society".

  13.  The Commission does not break down its official statistics by discipline and so there are no separate figures for the performance of UK arts and humanities researchers. Nonetheless, UK participation in "Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge-based Society" (FP6) was very strong in relation to other countries. There were 226 individual participants from the UK in 108 contracts valued at 35 million Euro. The entire budget for this theme in FP6 was 230m Euro.

  14.  In both these programmes, there were limited opportunities for humanities researchers. However, AHRB/C has worked with the UK Research Office in Brussels (UKRO—supported by the Research Councils) to ensure these opportunities are highlighted to the UK community, through its website and cycle of HEI visits.

  15.  AHRC is delighted that in FP7, the humanities are explicitly included in the co-operation programme for the first time. With calls on topics such as migration and religions, attitudes and values, the programme will support pan-European collaborative research in priority areas which AHRC is also supporting collaborative research. The culture of collaborative project-based work which AHRC promotes should ensure a positive response to the calls which have been issued this year. It will continue to actively work with UKRO to ensure maximum take-up of the funding available, and has invited UKRO representatives to talk to early careers researchers at AHRC events about opportunities both in the Framework Programme and in the European Research Council (ERC).

  16.  AHRC is represented on the FP7 Social Sciences and Humanities Programme Committee (the Member States body that oversees the relevant cooperation theme). Through this forum, AHRC has been successful in pressing for a more humanities-friendly programme specification, and it will continue to press for an enlarged role for the humanities in future rounds of funding.

European Research Council

  17.  AHRC enjoys good relations with members of the ERC Scientific Council. In January 2006, Senior Officers from AHRC and ESRC met with SSH representatives of the Scientific Council of the ERC (including Vice-President Helga Nowotny) to discuss how humanities research might be best supported and how top UK researchers could be encouraged to reply.

  18.  AHRC welcomes this new and significant source of funding for the humanities at European level, as well as the focus on basic research. It believes that the best way for the Council to evolve so as to provide added value to the efforts of national research councils is to focus on funding teams of transnational researchers. The Council should avoid schemes which duplicate efforts at national level, such as those designed to help early careers researchers.

ERA-NET

  19.  AHRC welcomes the ERA-NET initiative as a method of allowing national research agencies to manage and fund transnational research that complements and adds value to their strategies domestically. Through the ERA-NET Plus scheme, the initiative has the additional advantage of attracting EU research funds to priorities that have been set by national research councils. The opportunity for sustained and structured exchange of information and best practice is also valued as a way of improving operational effectiveness and avoiding wasteful duplication of effort.

  20.  AHRC is currently a member of one ERA-NET funded through FP6: Humanities in the European Research Area (HERA). It is partnered by 14 other European agencies and ministries. The members of HERA have agreed to jointly fund 2 transnational funding programmes in 2009 on the following themes:

—  The Humanities as a Source of Innovation and Creativity

—  The Dynamics of Culture

  21.  These programmes will operate a single peer review mechanism and will fund research on a "common pot" basis ie the funding of successful transnational teams will not be based on the principle of juste retour.

  22.  This is a major advance in the funding of collaborative research in Europe and removes a number of bureaucratic impediments to joint funding. It will represent a significant improvement on existing multilateral mechanisms for the joint funding of collaborative research in the humanities, such as the ESF EUROCORES programme.

  23.  The HERA platform is also valuable in allowing humanities funding agencies to develop a common and coherent approach to European-wide challenges. Examples include the place of arts and humanities infrastructure projects in the EU ESFRI roadmap and the development of tools for the assessment of arts and humanities research outputs, beginning with the creation of a European Reference Index for the Humanities in partnership with ESF.

  24.  As the largest humanities funding agency in Europe, the AHRC has a played an important role in forums such as HERA and ESF in ensuring that the voice of UK humanities researchers are heard in key European research debates.

ROLE AND SUCCESS OF AHRC IN FACILITATING UK PARTICIPATION IN AND CURRENT INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES

  25.  The agreement signed with NSF in 2006 allows for UK participants in the Human and Social Dynamics programme to be funded by AHRC. NSF also agrees to formally incorporate the comments of one UK-based peer reviewer nominated by AHRC. The agreement extends to all other NSF programmes which overlap with AHRC remit.

  26.  AHRC is a member of the European Science Foundation (ESF). It supports the UK component of transnational collaborative research (EUROCORES) and networking programmes (RNPs) on an a la carte basis. EUROCORES programmes to be funded include Origins of Man and Language (2002: 2 UK participants) and Consciousness in a Natural and Cultural Context (2006: 5 UK participants). RNPs with UK components to be funded include Associated Chronologies of the Ancient Near East (ARCANE) and From Natural Philosophy to Science (NPTS).

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN AHRC AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES

  27.  As previously mentioned, AHRC international strategy takes into consideration GSIF priorities in designating certain countries and regions a priority. In doing so it broadly aligns itself with the international strategies of the Government departments and agencies represented on that forum.

  28.  There is also direct collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. AHRC is providing financial and intellectual support to the FCO Year of Science in Brazil (launched March 2007). The aim of that initiative is to promote the UK as the partner of choice for UK researchers, and AHRC is sponsoring an event on creativity, focussing on such issues as art and design, media and intellectual property.

  29.  An enduring problem in establishing closer links with the FCO and utilising its Science and Innovation Network more effectively is the lack of coverage of arts and humanities issues and researchers by science attaches. The examples of constructive liaison, for example with the South China post in Guangzhou on the theme of Heritage Science and the Sao Paulo post on Creativity, have sadly been rare.

IMPACT OF AHRC POLICY ON THE INTERNATIONAL MOBILITY OF RESEARCHERS

  30.  AHRC, in collaboration with ESRC, makes Library of Congress (LoC) Scholarships available to UK doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows and research assistants who wish to pursue a course of study for a short period in the US. The scheme was initiated in 2005 as a result of the recommendations made by Sir Gareth Roberts on UK-US links. The scheme gives extensive access to the LoC's world-class facilities in Washington D.C. 16 placements have been made to date.

  31.  Mobility is also encouraged through AHRC's Research and Networks scheme and other networking schemes such as 5 Anglo-French bilateral workshop series supported in collaboration with ESRC. These series were focused on topics of strategic interest such as consciousness and cognition, migration and security.

AHRC

April 2007