Research Fortnight - 08/07/2015

Updated daily at www.ResearchProfessional.
com
Founded by William Cullerne Bown
8 July 2015
Scientists push government for

drugs bill exemption p5
British Museum Impact on our terms p6

Tag team How taxonomy could improve
science funding and policy p21
Tensions bubble below

metrics consensus
Influential review to favour human judgement over data in REF

Elseviers attempts to show a correlation between how
universities performed in the 2014 Research Excellence
Framework (REF) and how they would have done in a
metrics-based system are flawed, according to the lead
author of an independent report on metrics.
There is an emerging consensus that both metrics
and human judgement are needed in research management and evaluationthis view is held by Elsevier
and other metrics providers, and will also be put forth
in James Wilsdons report, due out on 9 July. However,
Wilsdon, a professor of science and democracy at the
University of Sussex, has his doubts about the quality
of metrics and their ability to replace or do the same
job as humans.
Earlier this year, Elsevier released an analysis showing a strong correlation between the quality-related
(QR) funding received by a university after the 2014
REF and the proportion of the institutions outputs
that were in the top 5 per cent of most-cited articles
worldwide. However, that analysis also showed that,
for the eight UK institutions that receive more than
35million a year, the correlation was weak.
There was nothing factually wrong with Elseviers
analysis, but it should still be viewed with caution, says
Bill Browne, a professor of biostatistics at the University
of Bristol. Elsevier is looking at relationships at the
institution level and should be careful of what is known
as the ecological fallacy, where a relationship at an
aggregated level (institution) may not be the same as
that at the observation level (REF outputs).
In contrast, the Higher Education Funding Council
for England, which commissioned Wilsdons review,
has tested the ability of 15 metrics to reach the same
result as the panels did for 150,000 individual outputs
submitted to the 2014 REF. HEFCE was able to carry out
this observation-level analysis because it had access
to these REF data before they were destroyed as part of
the standard process. This analysis, which will be published alongside the report tomorrow, shows a weak
link between metrics-based and human judgement.
Wilsdon says that HEFCEs analysis is clearly more
robust than Elseviers, as looking closely at output-
by Adam Smith
asnews@ResearchResearch.com
level scores and metrics allows for a far more accurate

judgement to be made about any correlative link.
However, Nick Fowler, the managing director of
research management at Elsevier, says the company
is simply running lots of analyses to test the capability of various metrics in combination. For instance,
an Elsevier analysis comparing QR funding with fieldweighted citation impact shows a strong correlation
for the eight institutions receiving more than 35m a
yeardespite the weak correlation overall.
We believe no single metric should be used, says
Fowler. The notion of a weak correlation is misguiding. If you used multiple metrics then it would be
possible to come up with an algorithm that comes
close to the result from the current process.
Since its inception in April 2014, Wilsdons review
has inspired an energetic debate between academics,
metrics providers, funders and research managers.
Judith Petts, the University of Southamptons pro
vice-chancellor for research, said in her submission
that metrics could help to create a fairer and more
objective method of assessment. But many academics, including the pharmacologist David Colquhoun
and Meera Sabaratnam, a lecturer in international
relations, have cautioned against a growing role for
metrics in research assessment.
Although Wilsdons report will not recommend that
peer review be replaced by metrics, it will say that REF
panels should be handed more data and given the
choice of which, if any, to use. Sabaratnam is uneasy
about this: There is already an incredible amount
of power in the panels. I dont want to disparage the
work they do, which is very hard, but
Every new opportunity
its already highly unaccountable.
for research funding
The report is also expected to recfrom every sponsor in
ommend a greater use of metrics in
the UK, EU, US & beyond
the impact and environment sections
of the REF, and that bibliometric data,
Every discipline
which Elsevier provided to 11 panels
Every fortnight
in 2014, continue to be used.
IssueIssue
No. 460
No.
2 editorial
Research Fortnight, 8 July 2015

Edited by Ehsan Masood
news@ResearchResearch.com
Tel: 020 7216 6500
Fax: 020 7216 6501
Unit 111, 134-146 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3AR
Tides wait for no man

Metrics in assessment: a question of when, not if
Tomorrows report of the independent review of metrics in research
assessment and management is aptly called The Metric Tide. A tide can be
predicted and its effects mitigated, but it waits for no-one. The same is
true for metrics.
The reports authors have already said that they do not expect research
metrics to be good enough to replace peer review for another three cycles
of the Research Excellence Framework (REF). But that is a mere 15 years
away. The direction of travel is clear.
There are many reasons for this, but we will list just three. The first is
the tide of technology. We can now process huge quantities of information
and condense it into bite-sized indices. That, say proponents of big data,
will make machines just as good as, and one day better than, peer review.
The second reason is the tide of austerity. There is a perception that
peer review is expensive in terms of both direct and indirect costs. Reduce
the human dimension and the REF bill could be smaller.
The third is the tide of commerce. The UKs multinational research
publishers hold rights to research analytics data and now also provide
consulting services to other governments on research policy and evaluation. These companies are telling the UK government, formally and
informally, that the UK is ready to adopt metrics and, in doing so, catalyse a much bigger export industry.
It is this third reason that should concern us the most.
For all its shortcomings, a peer-reviewed REF is both participatory and
representative because the state allows it to be so. A metrics-based REF
risks being less inclusive because companies will have a stronger role.
It may not always feel this way to researchers, but the power to set
evaluation criteria and make decisions ultimately rests with the scholarly
community, partly because of whatever is left of the Haldane principle.
Unless there is some fundamental reordering of rights to research analytics data, one consequence of the metric tide is that the state may no
longer be in a position to guarantee such autonomy.
We are already seeing analogous effects in other fields, as governments
slowly row back and companies move in. In international development,
for example, governments and donors are relying more on privately held
administrative data*, albeit that this is often provided on a pro bono
basis. The national census may well be heading in a similar direction.
Proponents of metrics will argue that, even if metrics are a poor second
to peer review for now, they will improve over time. This may be true, but
it isnt the point. When the state retreats, companies will step in, and
eventually theynot the userswill set the rules.
So scholars should prepare. The metrics review team has created a
Twitter handle, @ResMetrics, shorthand for responsible metrics, to let
the debate continue. They could just as easily have called it @metrictide
because, as their report says, the tide is coming in.
*See In The Name of Development: Power, profit and the datafication of the
global south, by Linnet Taylor of the University of Amsterdam and Dennis
Broeders of Erasmus University Rotterdam (in review).
elsewhere
The field has cried wolf too many times.
The astroparticle physicist Jan Conrad
of Stockholm University says that public
trust in science has been undermined by
announcements of major discoveries in
astrophysics and cosmology that turned out
to be false alarms. Nature, 1/7/15.
Much has happened, very little has
changed, and most problems remain.
Eerke Boiten, the director of the Academic
Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security
Research at the University of Kent, is frustrated that the government is pressing ahead
with the care.data patient database without
addressing the issues that caused it to fail
the first time. The Conversation, 30/6/15.
The quickest and easiest way to solve this
would be to consign the 25 members of
this House whose surname begins with Mc
to the outer darkness of the N-Z queue.
The Conservative MP for Kettering, Philip
Hollobone, complains that the alphabetical
queues to vote in the House of Commons
have been skewed by an influx from the
Scottish National Party. Hansard, 2/7/15.
I believe that the main problem is not
overt prejudice, but the hidden anachronistic assumptions and attitudes, the sort
that sometimes surface in jokes.
Uta Frith, the chairwoman of the Royal
Societys diversity committee, says that one
way to address implicit bias is to highlight
subtle put-downs. In Verba blog, 29/6/15.
The state must do more to prevent the
threats caused by climate change.
A district court in The Hague rules that the
Dutch government must intensify its fight
against climate change, after the environmental group Urgenda argued in a civil
case that global warming was a violation of
human rights that the government should
work to prevent. Science 24/6/15.
decade
There may be people who
perform an excellent job but
who for strategic or tactical
reasons we might not want
to include.
James Stirling, the pro vice-chancellor
for research at Durham University, says
there will still be gaming in the 2008
Research Assessment Exercise, despite
a requirement that universities draw up
codes of practice on equal opportunities
for women and minority groups.
whats going on 3
whats going on
Synchrotron appeals for funding boost
The Diamond Light Source synchrotron is pressing for additional funding in the UK
governments comprehensive spending review, to pay for the increase in operating costs that
will accompany its planned expansion. The synchrotron, which receives 86 per cent of its
funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council, has secured the cash to add eight
more beam lines by 2018, but its chief executive Andrew Harrison says the facility needs a 10
per cent increase in its operational budget to make the most of the increased capacity.
Huge cash injection for open-access humanities project
The Open Library of Humanities has received a grant of nearly 500,000 to continue building
a publishing platform that makes research outputs freely available while sparing authors any
publishing fees. The funding, from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation, will last for three years.
Minister rejects R&D spending target...
Jo Johnson, the minister for universities and science, has ruled out the possibility of a target
for R&D spending of 3 per cent of GDP, but has said that science and research will underpin
the governments strategy for regional growth. In a parliamentary debate on 24 June,
Johnson acknowledged that the UK underinvests in science compared with competitors, but
questioned the evidence behind the 3 per cent target mooted in recommendations published
last year by the House of Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee.
...and confirms creation of teaching assessment exercise
The universities and science minister Jo Johnson has confirmed that the government
will establish a Teaching Excellence Framework. The framework will create incentives for
universities to devote as much attention to the quality of teaching as fee-paying students and
prospective employers have a right to expect, he said on 1 July.
Government begins crackdown on fake universities
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has commissioned the company Graduate
Prospects to investigate unaccredited degree-awarding institutions that describe themselves as
universities. Graduate Prospects will provide a public list of websites that advertise themselves
as universities, and the companys Higher Education Degree Datacheck authentication service
will work with Trading Standards offices to prosecute the owners.
MRC grant success rate falls...
The average success rate among applications for Medical Research Council grants fell from
26per cent in 2013-14 to 22 per cent in 2014-15, according to the councils annual report.
The MRC said that the decrease was due to a large increase in applicationsparticularly for the
councils Skills Development Fellowships. In 2014-15, 183 research grants were awarded, worth
129.3 million. The councils net expenditure was 705.9m, an increase of 5m from 2013-14.
...while STFC accounts show spending increase of 31m
The Science and Technology Facilities Councils net expenditure rose by 31 million between
2013-14 and 2014-15, from 513.4m to 544.5m. Increases in research spending were
prominent, with a rise of 10.9m for research grants and 17.2m for other grants and awards.
The biggest increases were in astronomy and particle physics.
4 news
news
Tories give mixed messages

on industrial strategy
People should not get too hung up about the
Conservative governments apparent choice to distance
itself from the term industrial strategy, the science
minister Jo Johnson has said.
On 2 July, speaking at the launch of a report on
u niversity-business collaboration led by the Royal
Academy of Engineerings president Ann Dowling,
Johnson said that the inclusion of a whole chapter on
the governments industrial strategy was not at odds
with his ministerial colleagues view of the term.
The coalition governments industrial strategy was
masterminded by the Liberal Democrat business secretary Vince Cable, who also commissioned the Dowling
review. But Cables Conservative successor Sajid Javid
is not using the term: pressed by Labour MPs in a
House of Commons debate on 30 June, he said that the
Conservative government had an industrial approach.
Sources from businesses and universities say the government is distancing itself from Cables activist stance
on growing the economy.
by Adam Smith
Speaking at the launch in the Commons, Johnson

said: Whether its a strategy or dialogue or approach,
were all trying to do the same thing, which is to ensure
that government is playing a strong role as a partner to
business where appropriate. A senior university manager working with businesses told Research Fortnight that
Johnsons words show he is not fully in the loop about
the governments position on the industrial strategy.
In her report, Dowling says that industry needs government support, and praises the coalitions industrial
strategy as a mechanism for having good dialogues
between universities, businesses and government.
However, a senior figure at a large electronics firm says
that by focusing on the strategy, Dowling may have failed
to capture the Conservative governments interest. My
slight concern with this report is that despite its very sensible set of recommendations, the language makes it too
easy for ministers to walk away from it, the source says.
Universities slow to find funding for open access

Only 13 per cent of universities have written business
plans for how they will respond to growing requirements
for researchers to make their data freely available, according to a survey by the Digital Curation Centre, which
advises universities on how to manage research data.
The centres second survey into preparations for open
data took in the views of 60 institutions. The results show
that universities are making progress on creating infrastructure and policies for research data management,
but that there is still some way to go before researchers
publish their data as a matter of course.
Open data can be very expensive for institutions: the
University of Edinburgh spent 1.6 million on hardware
and staff between 2012 and 2015 to set up a research
data service. That this is a common problem is apparent
from the results of the survey, as almost half of respondents said that funding was the most important barrier to
open data. Skills and staffwhich also depend on institutional fundingare considered the next most important.
Infrastructure, which was considered the most important barrier at the time of the 2014 survey, has dropped
to third, which highlights a slight shift in the technical
preparedness of universities. Many have created institutional repositories over the past year. The London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, for example,
launched one called Data Compass on 30 June.
by Adam Smith
But it will take 10 years before all universities have

fully embedded open data into their processes, says
Sally Rumsey, a digital research librarian at the Bodleian
Libraries in the University of Oxford.
Nonetheless, the 2015 survey shows that universities
are making progress in most areas of research data management, with the greatest change being in the area
of training and awareness. In the 2014 survey, 22 per
cent of universities said they were rolling out training
and awareness; this year the figure is up to 63 per cent.
But although the proportion of universities that have
developed policies has risen from 59 to 87 per cent, the
proportion with business plans has dropped from 17 to
13 per cent.
The survey aims to build a national picture of institutional progress towards open-data imperatives. These
include, for example, the Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Councils requirement for data to be
made available online from 1 May, and the Economic and
Social Research Councils recently published policy.
However, research data managers and librarians say
they would prefer the councils to harmonise their policies. Were like Sisyphus, says Rumsey. No matter how
much we do, theres always more to do.
news 5
Science Museum to replace Launchpad

with pay-to-play gallery
The Science Museum in London is to replace the childrens gallery Launchpad with an attraction that carries a
cover charge, as part of a strategy to bring in more adults.
Launchpad, which opened in 1986, is a free attraction that includes more than 50 interactive exhibits for
children, particularly those between the ages of eight
and fourteen. With up to 1.5 million visitors each year,
it is the most popular area of the museumbut it is due
to close in November and be replaced by a larger interactive gallery. A spokesman for the museum confirmed
that there will be a small charge for non-school visits
to the new gallery when it opens in late 2016.
Launchpad is incredibly expensive and funding cuts
have meant that we are operating in a difficult financial
situation, says Tom OLeary, the organisations director
of learning. The museum has had to become more savvy
at raising money through commercial activities.
The aim is to use the admission fees towards the
gallerys running costs, which for Launchpad come
to 850,000 a year, and the 6m upgrade to the larger attraction. OLeary adds that the museums budget
has fallen by 30 per cent since 2010, and that there are
by Cristina Gallardo
cgnews@ResearchResearch.com
concerns it may face further cuts in the governments

summer budget, due to be announced today.
However, the decision to raise funds from Launchpads
successor has been criticised by families and observers, who say that this is part of a strategy to cut down
on family visits in favour of adult visitors. A third of the
museums visitors are adults, but its audience development plan for the next five years says it wants to attract
at least 200,000 more adults a year by 2020.
A former senior manager of the museum, who asked
not to be named, says that the museum is trying to
rebrand itself as a more elitist and intellectual institution, and that the decision will be especially detrimental
to low-income families. Some members of the management and board of trustees believe there are too many
children and that it should become more like the British
Museum, the source says.
OLeary acknowledges that the museum wants to
bring in more adults, but stresses that we very much
cherish our family audience.
Bill on legal highs unworkable, government told

A proposed bill on psychoactive substances that is passing through the House of Lords is impractical and poses
a substantial threat to research, experts have said.
The bill seeks to pre-emptively ban legal highs: substances that produce similar effects to drugs such as
cocaine and ecstasy, but that are not included under the
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
However, Rudi Fortson, a visiting professor of law
at Queen Mary, University of London, who served on
the independent inquiry into the Misuse of Drugs Act
in 2000, says that the difficulty of defining a psychoactive substance and its relationship with exempted
substances will render the proposed act unworkable
and ineffectual.
Fortson has been advising the cross-bench peer Molly
Meacher, who has made several amendments to the bill
during the Lords debates, including one to cover substances subject to R&D.
Six major medical and biological societies and funders,
including the Wellcome Trust, have backed Meachers
amendments, saying in an open letter to the home secretary Theresa May that the bill puts many types of research,
particularly in neuroscience, at significant risk. In a
separate letter, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of
Drugs said the bill could seriously inhibit medical and
scientific research on psychoactive substances.
by James Brooks
jbnews@ResearchResearch.com
During the second debate in the Lords, Caroline

Chisholm, a Conservative whip in the House of Lords,
said that the government attached a high priority to
bona fide scientific research and would seek to make
sure that the bill did not hold back progress in the area.
Fortson says that the reactions to the bill should cause
ministers to sit up and take note. He shares researchers concerns but points out that the draft regulations
for the bill are yet to be published. Its highly likely that
the regulations will say something about research, in
terms of some form of testing of substances in order to
determine their psychoactivity, harmful effects or even
potential medicinal value, he says.
Meanwhile, Adam Winstock, a consultant psychiatrist
and founder of the Global Drug Survey, which polls drug
users annually, says he is surprised at the timing of the
bill. There has been more funding for the investigation
of psychedelics, MDMA and cannabis as medicines in the
last five years than there has been in a very long time,
he says. That shift was a recognition that morality had
stood in the way of medical progress.
The Lords committee will report on the bill on 14 July,
before its third and final reading in the Lords. Debate
will then move to the House of Commons.
6 news
i n t e r v i e w j e r e m y h i l l
Treasure chest
Over the last decade, the British Museum has acquired a knack for winning research
funding. Jeremy Hill, the museums head of research, spoke to James Brooks about
the drawbacks of success.
The British Museum was established in 1753, but Jeremy
Hill makes 2005 sound like its first year.
It was then that the Arts and Humanities Research
Council started work and invited applications for
academic analogue status from the UKs heritage institutions, to allow them to apply for funding on the same
footing as universities. The British Museum was among
the first eight museums and galleries to go analogue.
Today, the AHRC recognises 17 of these independent
research organisations, as they are now known.
Becoming an IRO transformed what the major collecting and heritage organisations did, Hill says. We
had to put our houses in order and rethink the role of
research. We started doing far more university-style,
classic research than wed ever done before.
It also helped Hill to get his role as head of research,
which did not exist before he took it on in 2006, just a
year after the museum received IRO status. Before that,
having joined the museum as a curator in 1999, Hill was
plucked out by the museums director Neil MacGregor
and held a number of roles within the directorate,
including spells in policy, press and communications.
Under his research leadership, the museum has grown
into the largest humanities IRO, not least in terms of
funding. The museum brought in 7.5 million in research
funding last year, Hill says. Not a lot in science terms,
but for the humanities, thats a huge amount of money.
The year before I started as head of research, I think we
brought in about 50,000.
Not all of this funding is from the AHRCthe
Leverhulme Trust and the European Research Council
have both supported major research projects in the last
couple of yearsbut Hill says that the IRO status conferred by the AHRC emboldened the institution and
heightened its research ambitions. We could have
applied to these sorts of funders
before, says Hill, but we didnt
think in those sorts of terms.
The museum employs a total of
85 curators and scientists, all of
whom are expected to be active in
research and have funding targets.
Meanwhile, Hills own targets are
set by the museums trustees, who,
he says, have become increasingly
interested in research rather than
Its horrendous,
the number of
people who come
knocking on our
door looking for
impact.
scholarship. His role at the institution has also earned

him a place on the AHRCs advisory board, which he has
held since 2012.
One area of research in which you would expect the
museum to excel is impact, but the inclusion of impact
case studies in the Research Excellence Framework
actually caused it some problems. Its horrendous,
the number of people who come knocking on our door
looking for impact, Hill says. Having to remind universities that the UKs pre-eminent cultural institution (it
received 6.7 million visitors in 2014) isnt just here to
put on an exhibition for your research project is clearly
not a task he relishes.
Although he concedes that the impact agenda has
helped the museum to facilitate partnerships as the
instigating party, Hill says that cultural organisations
still need to form a united front and play the impact
game to their advantage.
Relations with the government are also complex, Hill
says. The research that led to our recent Ming: 50Years
That Changed China exhibition might become an important part of our cultural diplomacy with China, for
example. And this might support what the government
is doing. But were not being told what to do.
Indeed, when Hill is asked what the major challenge
will be in the future, he replies with one word: Money.
The museum estimates that its funding will have declined
in real terms by 30 per cent between 2010 and 2016. The
situation is worse elsewhere, Hill acknowledges. Local
authority museums have suffered very considerable cuts.
For all of us, the question is: how do we retain the balance of high-quality research if our budgets and staff are
on the way down?
And then theres the matter of MacGregors replacement; the museums director of 13 years is leaving in
December to lead the Humboldt Forum in Berlin, which
is due to open in 2019. If Hill has any inside information
on MacGregors successor, hes not letting on. He insists
that the directors role is not a political appointment
the museums next leader will be chosen by its trustees.
Hills own loyalty to the museum is clear. As the interview concludes, he turns to the museum spokeswoman
who has accompanied us throughout. I didnt say anything I shouldnt, did I? he asks. Just remember, the
AHRC is brilliantput that in.
More to say? Email comment@ResearchResearch.com
funding opportunities
Research Fortnight
8 July 2015
every new opportunity every discipline
deadlines
focus points
Opportunities from previous issues of

Research Fortnight, listed by closing
date. European Commission and
associated funders marked EU.
Issue no. 460
JRF reducing poverty

The Joseph Rowntree
Foundation invites
proposals for funding for
a review of evidence and
practice on communityled approaches to
reducing poverty in
neighbourhoods. One
project may be awarded up
to 20,000 [10].
EPSRC carbon capture
The Engineering and
Physical Sciences Research
Council, as part of the
Research Councils UK
energy programme, invites
intents to apply for its call
on research challenges in
industrial carbon capture
and storage. The total
budget is worth up to 4
million [13].
Innovate UK smart city
Innovate UK and the
Department for Culture,
Media and Sport invites
registrations for their
Internet of Things
cities demonstrator
competition. The project
may receive up to 10
million [14].
Animal-free testing
Lush and the Ethical
Consumer Research
Organisation invite applications and nominations
for their Lush prize. In
most years, several prizes
worth 50,000 each are
awarded [41].
not to be
p h o t o c o pie D
For subscriptions call +44 20 7216 6500
Each entry is followed by a Web id
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July
ESRC/National Research Foundation

Newton call for collaborative
research urban transformations in
South Africa 1185121
EU European Institute for Gender
Equality study on area A of the
Beijing platform for action women
and poverty 1185394
Innovate UK smart grants 1162409
Telethon Foundation career award
programme 151356
University of Leicester services to
support the development of topical
salbutamol to prevent human skin
scarring and hyperpigmentation
1185544
US Department of Defense prostate
cancer research programme health
disparity research award 161861
Welsh Government farm business
survey 2016 1185346
Agropolis Foundation open science
training and higher education
1183865
CRUK new agents committee trial
grants 201936
EU Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and
Technology facilitating cross-border
data flow in the digital single
market study on data location
restrictions 1185368
EU Directorate-General for Energy
maintenance and development of
internet database with renewable
energy support schemes and related
information 1185539
Netherlands Organisation for
Scientific Research security and
rule of law applied research fund:
call for evidence-informed ideas
1184184
Netherlands Organisation for
Scientific Research security and
rule of law applied research fund:
evidence-based policy advice and
tools 1184186
Royal College of Radiologists
Cochrane Shanks-Jalil travelling
professor 253837
Wellcome collaborative awards in
medical humanities 1182833
Wellcome collaborative awards in
society and ethics 1182829
17

18
20

21

22

Wellcome investigator awards in

biomedical science 1159096
Wellcome/Royal Society Sir Henry
Dale fellowships 1164964
Wellcome/Science Foundation
Ireland/Health Research Board
research career development fellowships in basic biomedical science
253970
Burdett Trust for Nursing maternal
and child obesity empowerment
programme 1185120
Cern Atlas PhD grants
1173947
DECC research into the performance
of UK dwellings with cavity walls
1185560
DFID/Wellcome/Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian
Assistance research for health in
humanitarian crises 1171539
EPSRC commitment to privacy and
trust in internet of things security
research hub 1185410
EU European Centre for Disease
Prevention and Control support to
standardisation of antimicrobial
susceptibility testing and development of clinical breakpoints for
surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in Europe 1185591
Fixed-point Open Ocean Observatory network transnational access
to FixO3 observatories 1185336
Orthopaedic Research UK general
and translational research funding
awards 1185572
Innovate UK innovation vouchers
1169522
EU Joint Research Centre study on
the impact of EU sectorial policies
on tropical deforestation and forest
degradation 1185521
NERC standard research grants
254868
BBSRC/NERC/Newton Fund call for
virtual joint centres with Brazil,
China and India in agricultural
nitrogen 1184529
development and maintenance
of an internet database with
certification schemes or equivalent
qualification schemes for installers
of small-scale renewable energy
source technologies 1185556
Innovate UK/MOD enhanced
individual protective equipment
1185332
International Council for Science
Scientific Committee on Antarctic
Research visiting professor scheme
1185476
MRC Max Perutz science writing
award 1166816
Online Funding Search
Directorate-General for Energy

23 EUimpact
assessment for a new
directive mainstreaming deploy-
24

26
27

28

29

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ment of renewable energy and

ensuring that the EU meets its 2030
renewable energy target 1185604
EU European Foundation for the
Improvement of Living and Working
Conditions preparation and implementation of the 4th European
quality of life survey 1185337
US Department of Defense US
Special Operations Command
broad agency announcement for
extramural biomedical research and
development 1184867
EU Directorate-General for
Communications Networks,
Content and Technology the role of
European structural and investment
funds in financing cloud computing
projects 1185124
Lush prize 1173005
Tropical Health and Education
Trust health partnership scheme
strengthening preventative capacity
1185573
British Lung Foundation travel
fellowships European Respiratory
Society 196796
technical assessment study for
biogas optimal use post 2020
1185631
EU Directorate-General for the
Environment LIFE NGO framework
partnership agreement operating
grants 1185449
National Council of Science and
Technology/NERC international
research projects call 1185469
Slovak Academy of Sciences mobility programme 1182965
supporting investments into renewable electricity in context of deep
market integration of renewable
energy sources for electricity after
2020: study on EU-, regional- and
national-level options 1185629
EU Directorate-General for Internal
Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship
and SMEs towards EU regional
economic convergence pilot
projects to reinforce collaboration
among clusters and technology
centres 1184939
MRC biomedical catalyst developmental pathway funding scheme
1176899
NIHR senior investigators 1167961
Royal College of Radiologists Constance Thornton fellowship 211446
US Department of Defense lung cancer research programme concept
award 255685
Brain Tumour Charity joint initiative
for funding feasibility studies in
brain tumours 1175073
British Council researcher links
workshop in Brazil on next generation sequencing in agriculture
1185580
CRUK feasibility study project
grants 255375
CRUK phase III clinical trial grants
257327
CRUK prospective sample collections project grants 255338
Innovate UK/MOD fuels and lubricants reducing the costs 1185455
8 funding opportunities
uk
highlights
New opportunities from UK-based funders.
MRC oncology and trauma

The Medical Research Council invites
proposals under its cross-board highlight
notice in the following areas:
radiation oncology and biology.
Web id: 1185836
acute trauma, in both the civilian and
military environments. Web id: 1185861
No deadline [1]
MOD R-Cloud framework

The Ministry of Defence's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory invites
expressions of interest to tender for its
R-Cloud chemical, biological, radiological
and nuclear capability framework. The
tenderer will have direct access to current
and future research requirements within
the chemical, biological, radiological and
nuclear capability areas. The contract is
estimated to be worth up to 10 million.
Web id: 1185800
Email: dstlrcloud@dstl.gov.uk
Deadline: 27 July 2015 [3]
Space technology
The UK Space Agency invites applications
for its outreach funding related to human
spaceflight and microgravity research
arts and creative technology. This supports ideas that give new perspectives
on science, technology and exploration
in a socio-cultural context, in the areas
of visual arts, video games, and creative
technology and immersive media. Awards
are worth up to 50,000 each.
Web id: 1185638
Email: andrew.kuh@ukspaceagency.
bis.gsi.gov.uk
DECC trace gases

The Department of Energy & Climate
Change invites tenders for the provision
of atmospheric observations and interpretation of trace gases for greenhouse
gas inventory verification. Tenderers may
bid for all or any of the following lots:
management and data collection at mace
head; management of and data collection
at stations in the UK; interpretation and
analysis of the results for the verification
of the UK's greenhouse gas inventory. The
budget is worth up to 1.8 million.
Web id: 1185840
Contact: Julia Sussams
Email: sidscienceteam@decc.gsi.gov.uk

bingo premises. Tenderers will identify
the nature and extent of problem gambling behaviour in licensed bingo retail
operations in Great Britain. The budget
is worth 125,000.
Web id: 1185784
Email: bingoitt@
responsiblegamblingtrust.org.uk
ScotGov student assessment

The Scottish Government invites tenders
to evaluate the programme for international student assessment. The tenderer
will undertake fieldwork, data collection
and submission to support Scotland's
participation in the programme for international student assessment.
Web id: 1185785
Deadline: 5 August 2015 [8]
DECC modularisation costs

The Department of Energy & Climate
Change invites tenders for a modularisation cost reduction study. Tenderers
may bid for all or any of the following
lots: advanced manufacturing processes;
advanced assembly, modularisation and
construction; control, operation and
electric systems. The budget for each lot
is worth 250,000.
Web id: 1185842
Contact: Leo Dando-Ladenis
Email: innovation@decc.gsi.gov.uk
JRF reducing poverty

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation invites
proposals for funding for a review of
evidence and practice on communityled approaches to reducing poverty in
neighbourhoods. This call aims to identify
effective community-led approaches to
poverty reduction in neighbourhoods, key
lessons around what works and gaps in
knowledge. One project may be awarded
up to 20,000.
Web id: 1185796
Email: phillipa.fairburn@jrf.org.uk
intents to apply for its call on research

challenges in industrial carbon capture
and storage. Funding supports collaborative research projects that tackle challenges in industrial carbon capture and
storage, and respond to the challenge of
CO2 capture technologies for industry or
whole systems understanding of CCS. The
total budget is worth up to 4 million.
Web id: 1185725
Email: laura.sewell@epsrc.ac.uk
Innovate UK smart city

Innovate UK and the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport invites registrations for their Internet of Things
cities demonstrator competition. This
supports a collaborative project that demonstrates the capability of the IoT in a city
region, and shows how the large-scale
deployment of IoT may benefit citizens
by offering environmental improvements,
economic opportunities, and more efficient and effective delivery of services
such as transport, healthcare and energy.
The project may receive up to 10 million.
Web id: 1184440
Email: support@innovateuk.gov.uk
Biocides in hot water

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board invites proposals for its call
on narcissus investigating the effects
of a range of potential biocides in hot
water treatments. This supports an R&D
project that aims to evaluate the potential
for using biocides and the efficacy of
a range of water treatment techniques
to remove pathogenic bacteria, fungal
spores and nematodes in recirculated
water, in order to clean water used during
hot water treatments of narcissus bulbs
prior to planting. The budget is worth
around 60,000.
Web id: 1185833
Email: cathryn.lambourne@ahdb.org.uk
NIHR models of care
Innovate UK and the Ministry of Defence's

Defence Equipment and Support department invite registrations for their nondestructive evaluation competition. This
seeks innovative technologies, concepts
and solutions that optimise non-destructive evaluation within the deployed and
fixed environment. A total of 1 million is
available for phase one projects.
Web id: 1185708
The Department of Health's National

Institute for Health Research invites
proposals under the commissioned funding stream of its health services and
delivery research programme. Proposals are sought on the topic of evidence
syntheses to support emerging models of
care. These models include multispecialty
community providers, primary and acute
care systems, viable smaller hospitals and
enhanced health in care homes.
Web id: 1185667
Email: hsdrinfo@soton.ac.uk
Deadline: 3 September 2015 [16]
Beef improvement
Thermal power research
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board invites tenders for its beef
improvement research programme. The
tenderer will provide equipment to measure individual feed intake in group-house
growing cattle on commercial farms. The
contract is worth 220,000.
Web id: 1185805
Contact: Judith Hemming
Email: procurement@ahdb.org.uk
The Energy Technology Institute invites

intents to submit for its call on thermal
power with climate capture and storage.
This aims to develop an investable concept for major power generation capacity
with CCS with low cost and low risk. The
budget is worth up to 2 million.
Web id: 1185663
Contact: Andrew Green
Email: ccs@eti.co.uk
MOD cyberspace
Gambling behaviour
EPSRC carbon capture
The Responsible Gambling Trust invites

tenders for the provision of research on
problem gambling behaviour in licensed
The Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research Council, as part of the Research
Councils UK energy programme, invites
Innovate UK/MOD materials
The Ministry of Defence's Centre of

Defence Enterprise and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory invite
proposals for their themed competition on understanding and interacting
with cyberspace. This seeks innovative
approaches to human interaction with
cyberspace in order to increase military situational awareness. A total of
500,000 is available for phase one projects. There is no cap on the value of
proposals, though phase one projects
are likely to receive up to 100,000 each.
Web id: 1184417
Email: cde@dstl.gv.uk
Innovate UK space research

Innovate UK and the UK Space Agency,
via the Space for Smarter Government
programme, invite registrations for their
space for smarter government competition. This seeks innovative technology
solutions for phase one of the competition that contribute towards the aim of
helping the public sector create sustainable operational services from satellite
data and enable smarter, more efficient
operations, reduce risk and enhance
policy making. The total budget for phase
one is 700,000, in which individual
contracts may receive up to 80,000 each.
Web id: 1185705
Email: competitions@innovateuk.org
MOD sensor technology

The Ministry of Defence's Centre for
Defence Enterprise and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory invite
innovative proposals for their themed
competition on what's inside that building. This supports projects that aim to
develop novel techniques which remotely
provide information about the layout and
situation inside a building, or underground facility from a range of at least
100 metres. The budget for phase one
is worth 650,000. There is no cap on
proposals, however MOD is more likely
to fund projects worth up to 100,000.
Web id: 1184414
Email: cde@dstl.gov.uk
Endocrinology meetings
The Society for Endocrinology invites
applications for its regional clinical cases
meeting grant. This enables individuals
and institutions to organise endocrinerelated events or meetings that provide
a forum for early-career endocrinologists
to present clinical cases. Grants are worth
up to 2,000 each.
Web id: 1185719
Email: grants@endocrinology.org
Geomorphology networking
The British Society for Geomorphology
invites proposals for its research network grant. This facilitates interactions
between groups of researchers that will
lead to the development of proposals for
research council thematic programmes
or discovery science grants. Grants are
typically worth 2,000 each.
Web id: 1185698
Contact: Lisa Mol
Email: bsg@geomorphology.org.uk
Innovate UK Malaysia research

Innovate UK, Research Councils UK and
the Malaysia Industry-Government Group
for High Technology, as part of the Newton Fund, invite registrations for the
Malaysia-UK research and innovation
bridges competition. This supports collaborative R&D projects that stimulate
innovation and find new commercial
solutions to challenges that Malaysia is
facing as climate change increasingly
impacts upon its cities and its urbanisation trajectory. The total budget is worth
up to 14.4 million. Projects are expected
to be worth up to 1.75m each.
Web id: 1185856
funding opportunities 9

Innovate collaborative R&D
ISSN 1358-1198
Published every two weeks with
breaks at Christmas, Easter and in
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Research Fortnight
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Editor Ehsan Masood
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John Whitfield
News Editors
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Senior Reporter
Adam Smith
Reporters
James Brooks, James Field,
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Chief Sub Editor Kris Pedder
Sub Editor Martyn Jones
Funding Content Manager
Maya Berger
Deputy Funding Content Manager
Yael Moscou
Senior Funding Editor
Melinda Sulkama
Funding Editors
Rebecca Blease, Mikael Jrvelin
Editorial Researchers
Sofia Capel, Charlotte van Hek,
Lotte Krause, Iqbal Makboul,
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Laura Kipp
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Publisher William Cullerne Bown
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Sales Managers
Jon Thornton, Alison Warder
Innovate UK and the National Council of

Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT) invite registrations for their MexicoUK collaborative industrial research and
development competition, under the
Newton Fund. This supports collaborative
projects that stimulate innovation across
the agroindustry, energy, and health
sectors which underpin future Mexican
socio-economic growth. Projects are
expected to be worth up to 850,000.
Web id: 1185757
Deadline: 7 October 2015 [23]
Orthopaedics fellowship
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, sponsored by the Cutner family, invites applications for their joint
research fellowship in orthopaedics. This
supports a research project undertaken in
the UK relating to orthopaedics, as well
as education and training in the field. The
fellowship is worth 50,000 over one year.
Web id: 1185416
Deadline: 13 November 2015 [24]
MRC quality of life

The Medical Research Council, through
its methodology research programme,
and the Department of Health's National Institute of Health Research invite
applications for their highlight notice
on improving cross-sector comparisons
beyond the quality adjusted life year. This
supports research into the possibility of
creating a measure of quality of life or
wellbeing, which would have utility across
health and social care.
Web id: 1185864
Email: david.crosby@headoffice.mrc.
ac.uk
Maternity care travel

The Royal Society of Medicine invites
submissions for the Wendy Savage travel
bursary, under its maternity section. This
enables candidates to travel overseas
and within the UK for research related to
maternity care. One bursary, worth 750,
for overseas travels is available, and one
worth 500 for travel within the UK.
Web id: 1183249
Email: maternity@rsm.ac.uk
Deadline: 26 January 2016 [26]
uk
other
Subscriptions
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info@researchresearch.com
Renewed opportunities from funders based

in the UK.
Advertising London
+44 20 7216 6528 or email
advertise@researchresearch.com
The African Studies Association of the UK

invites applications for its sponsorship of
conferences and workshops. This supports
UK academic workshops and conferences
in African studies. Grants are worth up to
500 each.
Web id: 1160686
Contact: Gemma Haxby
Email: secretary@asauk.net
No deadline [27]
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African studies meetings
Surgery travel fellowship

The British Association of Endocrine and
Thyroid Surgeons invites applications
for its travelling fellowship. This enables trainees and consultants to visit
prestigious units in order to learn a new

technique or observe the management
of complex cases. The fellowship is worth
up to 1,000.
Web id: 1177486
Contact: Bhavnita Borkhatria-Patel
Email: info@baets.org.uk
No deadline [28]
Lichen fieldwork
The British Lichen Society invites applications for its small ecological project
grants. These support fieldwork on
neglected habitats or species conducted
by society members. Grants are worth up
to 500 each.
Web id: 250897
Email: allan.pentecost@kcl.ac.uk
No deadline [30]
Haematology research
The British Society for Haematology
invites applications for its early-stage
research start-up grants. These assist
with consumable expenses for projects
that will potentially lead to full grant
proposals in haemotology. Grants are
worth up to 7,000 each.
Web id: 1175812
Email: info@b-s-h.org.uk
No deadline [32]
Zeolite travel bursary

The British Zeolite Association invites
applications for its travel bursaries. These
enable UK graduate students to attend
conferences and workshops within the
UK or overseas in areas related to zeolite
science and technology. Bursaries are
worth up to 500 each.
Web id: 211274
Contact: Aidan Doyle
Email: a.m.doyle@mmu.ac.uk
No deadline [34]
Human heredity
The Galton Institute invites applications for its grants for conferences and
workshops. These enable candidates to
run conferences or workshops on topics
relevant to the institute's aims and objectives. Grants are worth up to 1,000 each.
Web id: 251925
Email: betty.nixon.t21@btinternet.com
No deadline [36]
Good relations grants

The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland,
under its central good relations funding
programme, invites applications for its
small grants. These support projects that
contribute to the promotion of good relations and to building a united and shared
community in Northern Ireland. Grants
are worth up to 500 each.
Web id: 1178706
Email: goodrelationsfund@ofmdfmni.
gov.uk
No deadline [37]
ScotGov Scottish business

The Scottish Government's Scottish
Enterprise invites general inquiries for
its research and development grant.
This supports businesses developing new
products, processes and services that
improve company competitiveness and
benefit the Scottish economy. The following grants are available: a maximum
of 35 per cent of the eligible project
costs to SMEs up to or above 100,000;
a maximum of 25 per cent of the eligible

project costs to large companies. Grants
above 100,000 must demonstrate a
positive impact on R&D jobs in Scotland.
Web id: 1166896
No deadline [39]
Maritime history grants

The Society for Nautical Research invites
applications for the Tomlin fund. This
supports education in historical maritime,
travel for conferences or seminars, and
individual research. The budget is worth
up to 1,500.
Web id: 203086
Contact: Byrne McLeod
Email: honsec@snr.org.uk
No deadline [40]
Animal-free testing
Lush and the Ethical Consumer Research
Organisation invite applications and nominations for their Lush prize. This rewards
projects and individuals who have been
working towards the goal of replacing
animals in product or ingredient safety
testing in the areas of lobbying, public
awareness, science, training and young
research. In most years, several prizes
worth 50,000 each are awarded.
Web id: 1173005
Dental grants
The Oral & Dental Trust, in collaboration
with GlaxoSmithKline, invites applications for its grants programme. This
supports research on the fundamental
mechanisms, prevention and management of plaque-related oral disease or
tooth wear. Grants are worth up to 6,500
each.
Web id: 1179542
Email: m.kellett@leeds.ac.uk
NIHR public health

The Department of Health's National
Institute for Health Research invites
applications for the researcher-led call for
proposals under its public health research
programme. This supports research that
evaluates public health interventions,
specifically to provide new knowledge
on the benefits, costs, acceptability and
wider impacts of non-NHS interventions
intended to improve the health of the
public and reduce inequalities in health.
Web id: 259153
Email: info@phr.ac.uk
Civil engineering
The Institution of Civil Engineers invites
applications for its visiting research fellowships. These aim to foster collaboration between the construction industry
or government personnel and research
establishments or higher education institutions, and to progress the competitive
position of the UK's construction industry. Fellowships are worth 2,500 each.
Web id: 1170009
Email: rabinder.phull@ice.org.uk
Genetics meeting grants

The Genetics Society invites applications
for its conference grants. These enable
junior scientists to attend society- and
non-society meetings and conferences
in the area of genetics. Grants are worth
up to 750 each.
Web id: 1179326
Email: theteam@genetics.org.uk
Anaesthesia grants
The National Institute of Academic Anaesthesia invites applications for the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain
and Ireland anaesthesia research grants.
These support research focusing on the
following areas: patient safety, innovation, clinical outcomes, education and
training, related professional issues, or
the environment. Grants are typically
worth up to 50,000.
Web id: 1171783
Email: info@niaa.org.uk
Surgical speciality skills

The Royal College of Surgeons invites
applications for the Needlemakers Company educational bursaries. These are
available to trainees who wish to attend a
speciality skills course held at the college.
Five bursaries, worth up to 1,000 each,
are available.
Web id: 1168106
Email: educationawards@rcseng.ac.uk
CRUK early diagnosis policy

Cancer Research UK invites applications
for its early diagnosis advisory group
grants. These support policy relevant
research or activities that add to the
scientific evidence base to achieve earlier cancer diagnosis and enable access
to treatment. Grants are worth up to
100,000 per year for a maximum period
of 18 months.
Web id: 1177074
Contact: Harrison Evans
Email: edag@cancer.org.uk
Radiology visits
The Royal College of Radiologists invites
applications for the RCR-Kay visiting fellowships. These enable consultant clinical
oncologists to visit major cancer centres
overseas or in the UK to gain experience in
world-class radiotherapy techniques that
would translate into service development
within their own department, with clear
patient benefits in terms of improved
outcomes. Fellowships are worth up to
2,000.
Web id: 1165747
Email: research@rcr.ac.uk
CRUK preclinical grants

for its new agents committee preclinical combination grants. These support
preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies
of new drug combinations, including
novel combinations with radiotherapy
and established drugs. Grants are worth
up to 50,000 each.
Web id: 1177076
Contact: Kate Searle
Email: combinationsalliance@cancer.
org.uk
Anatomical sciences
The Anatomical Society of Great Britain
and Ireland invites applications for its
research studentships. These support

PhD students in conducting research in
anatomical sciences in the UK and Ireland. Funding is provided for three years.
Web id: 1178583
Email: maryanne.piggott@kcl.ac.uk
German studies
The Association for German Studies in
Great Britain and Ireland invites applications for its publication subsidies. These
assist students who have completed a
PhD on a topic related to German studies
and require financial support to publish
their thesis. Subsidies of up to 500 are
available.
Web id: 1179470
Email: margaret.littler@manchester.
ac.uk
Structural biology
Instruct invites proposals for utilising
Instruct-funded structural biology techniques. This provides open access to
structural biology infrastructure at any
Instruct centre in Europe and Israel. In
addition to free access, travel, accommodation and consumables, up to 1,500
(1,100) per visit will be reimbursed.
Web id: 1177717
CRUK awards
for its multidisciplinary project award.
This supports collaborations between
cancer researchers and scientists from
engineering or physical science disciplines. Projects may receive up to
500,000 each.
Web id: 1181315
Email: david.clarke@cancer.org.uk
Vascular care award

The Society of Vascular Nurses, in collaboration with the Circulation Foundation,
invites abstracts for the James Purdie
award. This recognises the best abstract
presented at the society's annual conference that includes research, audit, practice development projects or original case
studies, and demonstrates an innovative
approach to vascular care. The award is
worth 500.
Web id: 1181151
Email: nikki.fenwick@sth.nhs.uk
Royal Society fellowships

The Royal Society invites applications
for its university research fellowships.
These enable early-career scientists in
the UK to build an independent research
career in any area of the life and physical
sciences. Fellowships are awarded for five
years, but extensions may be awarded for
three additional years. Awards include a
maximum salary of 38,166 per year and
research expenses.
Web id: 256685
Email: grants@royalsociety.org
Collections research
The Museums Association invites applications to the Esme Fairbairn collections
fund. This supports time-limited collections work that falls outside the scope of
an organisation's core resources. Grants
are worth between 20,000 and 100,000
each.
Web id: 1163760
Contact: Sally Colvin
Email: sally@museumsassociation.org
Maternity care bursary

entries for its maternity Luke Zander
research support bursary. This enables
candidates to progress their research
in the field of maternity care or care of
the newborn. The bursary is worth 500.
Web id: 1181242
Email: maternity@rsm.ac.uk
Churchill fellowships
The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
invites applications for its travelling
fellowships. These enable British citizens to travel overseas in order to bring
back knowledge and best practice for the
benefit of others in UK professions and
communities. Fellowships usually support
visits of up to eight weeks.
Web id: 203898
Email: office@wcmt.org.uk
Nesta/Innovate UK prize
Nesta, in collaboration with Innovate
UK, invites proposals for the Longitude
prize. This rewards the development of a
transformative point-of care diagnostic
test to revolutionise the delivery of global
healthcare and conserve antibiotics for
future generations. The winner is awarded
8 million.
Web id: 1179705
Email: longitude.prize@nesta.org.uk
Encephalitis prizes
The Encephalitis Society invites applications for the following prizes:
the Johnny Sutton student travel
bursary, worth 500. Web id: 1173013
neuropsychology essay prize. The
winner receives 500 and the runner-up
receives 250. Web id: 1173011
Contact: Ava Easton
Email: ava@encephalitis.info
Innovate UK games innovation

Innovate UK's IC tomorrow, in collaboration with several partners, invites proposals for its digital innovation contest on
games. This supports the development of
an innovative commercial prototype service or application across different areas
of the games industry. Five companies
may receive up to 25,000 each.
Web id: 1175578
Email: support@ictomorrow.co.uk
Medicine prizes
abstracts for the following prizes:
the radiology Finzi prize. First prize is
worth 500. Web id: 202579
urology section winter short papers
prizes, worth up to 1,500 each.
Web id: 202589
BBSRC fellowships
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council invites applications
for the David Phillips fellowships. These
support researchers who are wishing to

establish their first independent research
group in any area of science within the
council's remit, which includes research
on plants, microbes, animals, and tools
and technology underpinning biological
research. Each fellowship includes up to
1 million.
Web id: 1162893
Email: postdoc.fellowships@bbsrc.ac.uk
Childhood diseases
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child
Health invites applications for the Sir
Peter Tizard research bursary. This enables paediatricians who are not actively
involved in research to undertake a study
of a rare disease or condition that affects
children, and which addresses a question
of clinical or public health importance.
The bursary is worth up to 13,500.
Web id: 1181302
Contact: Richard Lynn
Email: bpsu@rcpch.ac.uk
Opthalmology grants
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh invites applications for the following ophthalmology grants:
major project grants, worth up to
150,000. Web id: 213203
small research support grants, worth
up to 10,000 each. Web id: 213202
Contact: Cathy McCartney
Email: c.mccartney@rcsed.ac.uk
Diabetes fellowship
Diabetes UK invites applications for the
RD Lawrence fellowship. This enables a
postdoctoral researcher to establish their
independence in diabetes research. The
fellowship is available for up to five years.
Web id: 210487
Email: research@diabetes.org.uk
Asian travel award

The Royal Society for Asian Affairs invites
applications for the Sir Peter Holmes
memorial award. This enables young candidates to travel to Asia, including the
Middle East, to undertake research relating to the geography, history, politics,
environmental conservation, culture or
art of the area visited. The award is worth
up to 1,000 and the winner receives two
year's free membership to the society.
Web id: 1170356
Email: sec@rsaa.org.uk
Surgery fellowship
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh invites proposals for the Maurice
Wohl research fellowship in surgery and
dental surgery. This supports a research
project undertaken in the UK that addresses one or more of the following priority
areas: surgical and dental translational
research; surgical and dental health services research; research into surgical and
dental aspects of patient safety, simulation and non-operative technical skills;
cancer research of demonstrable direct
clinical relevance to the management of
solid tumours. The fellowship is worth
50,000 per year.
Web id: 254124
jobs 11
Jobs
Policy, Management & Support plus Expert Committees
Highlights
Quality Improvement and
Clinical Standards Programme
Manager
42,407-51,595
Royal College of Paediatrics and
Child Health
Closing date: 9am, 16/07/2015
Summary: The post holder will
be responsible for developing
and driving the work of the
Clinical Standards team.
Contact: To be a key part of this
ambition and to find out further
information about the role and
apply, please visit http://www.
rcpch.ac.uk/vacancies-rcpch.
Research Grants Coordinator
35,291-42,595
Research Support Unit,
Institute of Cancer Research
Closing date: 20/07/2015
Summary: The post-holder will
support our research strategy
by providing expert advice
and assistance to individual
academics with applications for
external research funding.
Contact: A job description and
person specification are available
on the ICR's recruitment website
www.icr.ac.uk/careers
Research Officer
31,342-37,394
School of Planning and
Geography, Cardiff University
Summary: The role will provide
dedicated research development
support within the School of
Planning and Geography.
Contact: For more information
and to apply, please visit:
http://rsrch.co/1BGASEs.
For an informal chat please
contact Rose Savage
Email: savager1@cardiff.ac.uk
Tel: 02920 874308
Director of the White Rose
Consortium
NS
White Rose University
Consortium
Summary: The Director will build
on the achievements to date
and deliver further growth
through securing funding to
support new initiatives.
Contact: To find out more
about the role or apply
please visitwww.sheffield.
ac.uk/jobsquoting reference
UOS010861.
8 July 2015
The untapped business potential of

entrepreneurial academics
Universities have been slow to incorporate the
ideas of open innovation into their knowledge
transfer schemes, a study has suggested.
Because of this, they are missing out on the
entrepreneurial academics who could drive
their business development efforts forward.
According to Allen Alexander, the director of the
University of Exeters Centre for Innovation and
Service Research and the first author of the study,
innovation research often ignores academics
motives. Weve looked at drivers or barriers or
theoretical models of innovation, he says. But
if we are to truly engage and improve both uptake
and outputs from knowledge transfer, we need to
look at why academics would get involved.
To do that, his preliminary study, Open for
Business: Universities, entrepreneurial academics
and open innovation, which was presented at the
annual conference of the International Society for
Professional Innovation Management on 16 June,
uses two data sets.
First, it draws on a list of 30 ways that universities
engage with industry, from contract research to
researcher secondments and exchanges. These
came from PraxisUnico workshops for university
business development professionals, led by Sean
Fielding, a co-author of the report and the director
of research and knowledge transfer at Exeter.
This list is far from exhaustive, the paper
says, but it still suggests that the sorts of
engagement used by universities are no more
open than previous offerings have been. This,
the paper adds, is despite open-innovation policy
imperatives being put in place to urge universities
to offer new types of engagement. The schemes
on the list typically involve dyadic relationships,
Alexander says. In open innovation, it is
considered more beneficial to collaborate across
slightly larger groups than that.
The second data set is pulled out of research from
the last five years on entrepreneurial academics,
defined as university researchers who have a
certain openness to collaboration with businesses.
In the paper, entrepreneurial academics are
contrasted with academic entrepreneurs, defined
as people who are ready to engage in structured
agreements to exploit the commercial possibilities
of their research.
With entrepreneurial academics, its much more
about a mind-set, Alexander explains. They want
to engage in business but arent motivated by the
more concrete aims that academic entrepreneurs
may have.
Accordingly, the authors conclude that
entrepreneurial academics are likely to be better
attuned to more open modes of engagement.
Added to this, Alexander says, they are likely to
make up as much as 40 per cent of the academic
workforcemaking them far more common than
by James Brooks
jbnews@ResearchResearch.com
academic entrepreneurs, who probably make up

about 10 per cent.
But when the 30 schemes were mapped against
the motivations of entrepreneurial academics, it
became clear that many of the programmes would
be less than appealing. For instance, Alexander
says that the increasingly popular method of
bringing students in to work with businesses on
business problems scored very lowly in terms of
attractiveness for a hypothetical entrepreneurial
academic. All of this suggests that entrepreneurial
academics are untapped resources for technology
transfer, he says.
Alexander says universities will have to make
structural changes to adopt the more open
policies that are likely to appeal to entrepreneurial
academics. As an example, he says that institutions
often have centralised legal and intellectualproperty policies that dont allow knowledge
transfer departments much room for manoeuvre.
Geoff Archer is a knowledge transfer and
commercialisation manager at Teesside University
and is on the council of the Association for
University Research and Industry Links. Although
he agrees that more could be done to promote
open innovation and encourage entrepreneurial
academics involvement, he thinks Alexander
may be overestimating the influence of legal
departments in holding back open innovation.
Universities target-based culture is a more
likely culprit, he says. If a technology transfer
office has a target of creating 4 million of
licensing income, they will focus on that rather
than on knowledge transfer by any other means.
He adds that the approach universities adopt
will be partly determined by their business
partners. Small and medium-sized businesses
tend to be less attuned to an open innovation
culture than large corporations, and more often
seek solutions to their problems rather than
operating in a relationship-building mode, Archer
says. Although that is changing.
Andrew Pollard, an industrial professor at
the University of Wolverhampton, agrees that
entrepreneurial academics would benefit from
encouragement, but he doesnt think they are as
common in the workforce as Alexander claims.
Research is very much about working on the
robustness of the evidence base and not being
satisfied until youve really tied the evidence
down, he says. An entrepreneur, on the other
hand, is going to make a judgment as soon as
he feels hes got enough information. Its a
very different mind-set. Its entirely logical that
university isnt the natural home for entrepreneurs,
and that gets reinforced by the focus on teaching
and research. Business engagement comes third.
12 jobs
Advertise your
vacancies or funding
opportunities
*Research Fortnight reaches thousands
of professionals in the academic research
community every issue.
The Cure Parkinsons Trust is seeking

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The Cure Parkinsons Trust (CPT) funds research into agents and technologies with the potential to slow, stop,
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Applications sought for projects in the range of 50K - 200K and clinical trials up to 1 million.
As the leading publisher of UK research

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jobs 13
PAIN IN EUROPE IX
9TH CONGRESS OF THE EUROPEAN
PAIN FEDERATION EFIC
Vienna, Austria, 2- 5 September 2015
NEW FINDINGS IN CLINICAL PAIN RESEARCH:

Results of the EFIC-Grnenthal Grants 2012
Co-Chairs:
Dr Luis Villanueva, DDS, PhD (Paris, France)

Prof Esther Pogatzki-Zahn MD (Munster, Germany)
Speakers:
Prof Samar M Hatem, MD, PhD (Brussels, Belgium)

Upper limb pain after stroke: should we act on
pain or neglect?
Dr Lannie Ligthart, PhD (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
The development of pain, anxiety and depressive
symptoms over time.
Dr Ann Meulders, PhD (Leuven, Belgium)
Fear generalization processes in chronic pain:
an associative learning approach.
Prof Katharina Zimmermann, MD (Erlangen, Germany)
Ciguatera fish poisoning: novel insight into an old disease.
Guest-Speaker:
Prof Esther Pogatzki-Zahn, MD

(Munster, Germany)
Postoperative pain: From bench to bedside.
Dinner Buffet will be served from 19:30 h
Vienna, Austria,
3rd September 2015
18:00 - 19:30 h
Hall E
Contact: Mrs Gaby Erkens | e-mail: admin@e-g-g.info | www.e-g-g.info | www.efic.org
#Vitae15 Researcher Development

International Conference
Ad_EGG_2015_RZ.indd 1
29.04.15 14:42
8-9 September 2015, Midland Hotel, Manchester

Early bird rates available until 17 July!
The established annual Vitae conference is the largest event
that brings together all those with a strategic and practical
role in developing researchers.
and society
sustainable practice to support researcher skills,
professional and career development
Vitae, is an international programme led and managed by

CRAC, a not-for-profit registered UK charity dedicated to
active career learning and development. Working in the
UK since 1968, when we ran our first project to support
transitions of doctoral researchers to industry, Vitae has
great expertise at enhancing the skills and career impact of
researchers locally, within a global context.
The conference again will host the UK final of the 3

Minute Thesis competition (3MT), which challenges
doctoral candidates to present a compelling spoken
presentation on their research topic in just three minutes.
Conference themes
The conference will address the strategic and practical
implications of the following themes:
policy developments relating to doctoral education and
employing researchers
building institutional capacity for researchers professional
development to maintain research excellence
demonstrating the value of researcher development on
research outputs, researcher careers, economic prosperity
Conference attendance benefits

Keep updated and gain access to innovative knowledge at
the conference plenary and workshop sessions
Share best practice and exchange ideas
Network with up to 350 participants
Establish new contacts with strategists, practitioners and
stakeholders from the academic community
Discounts for Vitae members
3 for 2 offer on full residential rates until 17 July
For further information and to book please visit
www.vitae.ac.uk/conference2015 or email
events@vitae.ac.uk
14 jobs
Policy and market intelligence for university decision-makers

As the general election approaches, higher education could easily become a political
pawn. Meanwhile uncapped undergraduate numbers, new postgraduate student loans
and a squeeze on the public funding of research all place a strain on the system. Coping
with such constant change can be exhausting.
*HE is designed to help. As a subscriber you gain:
8am Playbook
A highly readable weekday briefing on the day ahead in higher education, plus a review of
the morning papers.
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In-depth coverage of major events from the moment the news breaks with updates as
more information becomes available. Includes a briefing suitable for internal circulation
plus a round-up of reactions and analysis from our team of experienced academics and
observers.
News
Succinct and timely analysis of political developments and market shifts in higher
education to keep you on top of current and emerging trends.
Parliamentary Monitor
Daily updates of all relevant parliamentary activity in the national and devolved
administrations.
Policy Watch
Concise coverage of major events, briefing documents and other policy outputs with
analysis of their implications for universities.
*HE Grid
An online event listing and planning tool to coordinate your universitys representation at
key higher education gatherings.
Take a FREE trial subscription

Try *HE for free with a trial subscription.
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or visit: info.researchprofessional.com/he/free-trial
*Research Professional, Unit 111, 134-146 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3AR
info.researchprofessional.com/he/free-trial

Otology prize
applications for its otology Norman Gamble research prize. This supports research
related to otology. The prize is worth
1,500.
Web id: 1160130
Email: otology@rsm.ac.uk
Surgery travel awards

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, under the Ethicon Foundation
Fund, invites applications for its travel
grants. These enable candidates to spend
time overseas to enhance or obtain relevant surgical experience which is not
normally available in their own country.
Grants are worth up to 1,000 each.
Web id: 257378
Contact: Cathy McCartney
Email: c.mccartney@rcsed.ac.uk
Botany thesis prize

The Linnean Society of London invites
nominations for the Irene Manton prize.
This recognises the best thesis in botany
examined for a doctorate of philosophy
during a single academic year. The prize
includes an award worth 1,000.
Web id: 1172430
Contact: Elizabeth Rollinson
Email: elizabeth@linnean.org
MRC integrative toxicology

The Medical Research Council invites
applications for its integrative toxicology
training partnership PhD studentship
scheme. This seeks to build expertise in
toxicology and related disciplines that
is required to ensure the safe and effective development of drugs, chemicals
and consumer products, and to provide
better assessment of risk deriving from
environmental exposure.
Web id: 258183
Contact: Andy Smith
Email: ags5@le.ac.uk
Archaeology grants
The Royal Archaeological Institute invites
applications for its research grants. These
support archaeological fieldwork, survey,
aspects of excavation and post-excavation research, architectural recording and
analysis, and artefact and art-historical
research. The total budget is 6,250.
Web id: 201100
Email: admin@royalarchinst.org
Antiquities research
The Society of Antiquaries of London
invites applications for its research and
travel grants. These support antiquarian,
archaeological, art history, documentary
and other research projects focusing on
material cultural heritage. Grants are
worth up to 10,500.
Web id: 210762
Email: admin@sal.org.uk
Otology training prizes

submissions for its otology training scholarships. These enable trainees to visit
otology centres. Scholarships are worth
up to 1,000.
Web id: 187588

Email: otology@rsm.ac.uk
Classical music fellowships

The British Library invites applications for
the Edison fellowships. These encourage
scholarship devoted to the history of
recordings of classical music and music
in performance through creating the
conditions for concentrated use of the
Library's collections of recordings. The
award will not exceed 5,000.
Web id: 1181246
Contact: Jonathan Summers
Email: classicalmusic@bl.uk
Urology paper prize

The Royal Society of Medicine, sponsored
by the Malcolm Coptcoat Memorial Trust,
invites abstracts for its urology Malcolm
Coptcoat spring short papers prize. This
recognises the best paper written on
any urological topic. The prize includes
up to 1,500 and a travelling fellowship
towards the section's overseas winter
scientific meeting.
Web id: 1182169
Email: urology@rsm.ac.uk
Deadline: 8 February 2016 [89]
CRUK research awards

for the following awards:
programme foundation awards. Funding is worth up to 1.5 million for projects
with a duration of up to six years.
Web id: 1180581
science committee programme
grants. Funding is worth up to 2.5m
for projects with a duration of up to five
years. Web id: 1173969
Email: grants.helpline@cancer.org.uk
Deadline: 23 February 2016 [91]
europe
highlights
New opportunities from European funders,
excluding funders based in the UK.
EU youth work
The Education, Audiovisual and Culture
Executive Agency invites tenders for the
provision of a study on youth work and
youth entrepreneurship. The tenderer
will evaluate entrepreneurial learning
in youth work activities in order to feed
discussions on the youth work plan 2016
to 2018 and provide evidence for defining priorities and fields of actions for
the future EU youth strategy. The contract is estimated to be worth 250,000
(177,500).
Web id: 1185704
Email: eacea-tenders@ec.europa.eu
EU regional development
Interreg Europe invites proposals for
its joint call for European cooperation.
Funding enables local and regional public authorities, and other local actors
of regional relevance, to improve the
performance of regional development
policy and programmes in areas relating
to research, technological development
and innovation, competitiveness of SMEs,
low-carbon economy, and environment
and resource efficiency. The indicative
budget is 107.5 million (76.3m).

Web id: 1184608
Email: info@interregeurope.eu
EU communicable diseases
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control invites tenders for a
systematic literature review on interventions for communicable diseases
prevention and control in prisons and
other custodial settings. The tenderer
will perform reviews on interventions,
cost-effectiveness and service models for
communicable diseases prevention and
control. The contract is worth 250,000
(177,500).
Web id: 1185754
Email: procurement@ecdc.europa.eu
EU vehicles and environment

The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs
invites tenders for an effect study of the
environmental step Euro 5 for L-category
vehicles. The tenderer will conduct a
number of environmental tests to inform
the approval authority whether the environmental performance of an L-category
vehicle type complies with the minimum
requirements. The contract is worth up to
900,000 (638,900).
Web id: 1185786
EU-India young scientists

ERA-Net INNO INDIGO invites video submissions for its young scientist competition. This enables young researchers
from India and the EU to promote their
research projects and ideas for cooperation at EU-India cooperation days. The
winner receives a conference trip worth
up to 2,000 (1,400), either to an EU
member state or to India.
Web id: 1185676
Email: office@indigoprojects.eu
EU climate policy
The Directorate-General for Climate
Action invites tenders for its modelling of European climate policies call.
The tenderer will provide updated and
improved quantitative tools and use them
to assess scenarios and policy options for
the implementation of the 2030 framework for climate and energy policies and
climate-relevant elements of the energy
union as well as other sectoral policies in
the medium- and long-term.
Web id: 1185652
Email: clima-tenders@ec.europa.eu
EU inter-branch organisations
The Directorate-General for Agriculture
and Rural Development invites tenders for
a study on the state of play of inter-branch
organisations in the EU. The contract is
estimated to be worth up to 200,000
(142,000).
Web id: 1185764
Contact: Adelina Dos Reis
Email: agri-evaluation@ec.europa.eu
EU market regulations
The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
invites tenders for substantive issues of
review in the areas of market entry, management of scarce resources and general
consumer issues. The tenderer will assess
the current regulatory framework with the
view to identifying substantive aspects
of review and provide a forward-looking
analysis taking into consideration the
impact of technological changes and
market developments on regulation.
The contract is worth up to 250,000
(177,500).
Web id: 1185695
Contact: Wolf-Dietrich Grussmann
Email: cnect-r2-eoi@ec.europa.eu
EU farming and emissions

The Joint Research Centre, through its
Institute for Prospective Technological
Studies, invites tenders on the contribution of precision agriculture technologies
to farm productivity and the mitigation of
greenhouse gas emissions. The tenderer
will investigate the impact of those PATs
holding the most promise for greenhouse
gas emissions reduction, which are also
economically attractive for EU farmers. The contract is worth an estimated
190,000 (134,900).
Web id: 1185773
Contact: Gesa Auf der Heyde
Email: jrc-seville-procurement@ec.
europa.eu
EU low carbon technology

Action invites tenders for its implementation of the NER 300 funding programme
call. The tenderer will support the commission with the implementation of the
programme and its projects by providing the following tasks: assessing the
contents of all NER 300 projects' annual
reports; analysing notifications of proposed changes to NER 300 projects; and
answering technical questions on projects
and their potential changes, coming from
the commission, member states or project
sponsors. The contract is worth up to
300,000 (213,000).
Web id: 1185690
EU investment models
The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
invites tenders for access regimes for
network investment and business models
in Europe. The tenderer will provide a
comparative analysis on the effectiveness and efficiency of the main public
and private investment models from the
viewpoint of the electronic network and
service providers, and provide guidance
on the different access regimes most
suited to support efficient investment and
business models and achieve EU policy
objectives. The contract is worth up to
330,000 (234,300).
Web id: 1185696
Contact: Wolf-Dietrich Grussmann
EU climate change
Action invites tenders for its ClimateADAPT call: dissemination and capacity
building supporting adaptation in the
framework of the EU adaptation strategy.
The tenderer will support the climate
change adaptation planning process by
integration of adaptation into communities of practice for selected EU policy sectors or vulnerable regions. The contract is
worth up to 120,000 (85,200).
Web id: 1185693
EU tuberculosis control
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control invites tenders for the
provision of support to five high-priority
member states in prevention and control
of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The
tenderer will provide capacity support
to the high-priority member states
Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and
Romania in prevention and control of
multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. The
contract is worth an estimated 400,000
(284,000).
Web id: 1185853
Email: procurement@ecdc.europa.eu
EU innovation economy
The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology invites tenders for a study on the
silver economy. The tenderer will analyse and quantify the overall potential
and conditions for the creation of new
European jobs and growth associated
with information and communications
technology-based innovation relevant
to demographic change. The contract is
worth up to 250,000 (177,500).
Web id: 1185823
Contact: Ilias Iakovidis
EU environmental policy
The Directorate-General for the Environment invites tenders for the following
opportunities:
provision of technical support in relation to the promotion of restoration in
the context of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020. The contract is worth up to
150,000 (106,500). Web id: 1185703
an updated inventory and assessment
of soil protection policy instruments in EU
member states. The contract is worth up
to 200,000. Web id: 1185702
Email: env-tenders@ec.europa.eu
EU lunar measurements
The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites invites
tenders for a study on the validation of
spectral band adjustment factors using
lunar hyperspectral measurements. The
tenderer will focus on two aspects that
are highly relevant to inter-calibration:
accounting for the differences in spectral response between instruments to
be inter-calibrated and supporting the
definition of the reference calibration
scale to be matched.
Web id: 1185850
EU building resources
The Joint Research Centre's Institute for
Prospective Technological Studies invites
tenders for an analysis of field studies to
support the identification of options for
building resource efficiency performance
indicators. The tenderer will determine
the scope and potential in the short- to

medium-term of addressing the macroobjectives for life cycle resource efficiency
at a building project level, taking into
account different building uses, forms, as
well as possible geographical and cultural
variations. The contract is estimated to be
worth 90,000 (63,900).
Web id: 1185826
Contact: Gesa Auf der Heyde
Email: jrc-seville-procurement@
ec.europa.eu
EU air quality tools

The Directorate-General for the Environment invites tenders for the development of improved tools for assessing NO2
exposure. The tenderer will improve the
basis for EU ambient air quality policy by
proposing methods and tools that are
coherent with the exposure metric used
when deriving the appropriate exposureresponse relationships, and that are
compatible with currently used integrated
assessment modelling tools of the EU. One
contract, worth an estimated 200,000
(142,000), is available.
Web id: 1185780
EU sharing economy
The Consumers, Health, Agriculture and
Food Executive Agency invites tenders for
the provision of an exploratory study of
consumer issues in the sharing economy.
The tenderer will provide a study of person-to-person online markets, consumer
legislation and business models in the EU
sharing economy. The contract is estimated to be worth 575,000 (408,300).
Web id: 1185824
Contact: Salvatore Magazzu
Email: chafea-cp-calls@ec.europa.eu
EU media analysis
The Directorate-General for Communication invites tenders for media analysis
services. The tenderer will assist the
commission with undertaking in-depth
media analysis of EU-related topics across
different media. The framework contract
is worth 10 million (7.1m).
Web id: 1185687
Contact: Krasimir Savov
Email: comm-media-analysis@ec.
europa.eu
EU education policy
The Directorate-General for Education and
Culture invites tenders for the provision of
expertise and support for European cooperation in education, training, youth and
sport. The tenderer will provide knowledge, evidence, analysis and policy guidance in order to enhance evidence-based
policy-making, support the European
Commission's work, and strengthen the
impact and added value of policies in the
fields of education, training, youth and
sport. One contract, worth an estimated
12 million (8.5m), is available.
Web id: 1185752
Contact: Roberta Persichelli Scola
Email: eac-07-2015-call@ec.europa.eu
nomic and social priorities in the member

states. The tenderer will analyse relevant
socio-economic priorities and identify
synergies between them and biodiversity
objectives in EU member states. The contract is worth up to 300,000 (213,000).
Web id: 1185854
EU eco-friendly products
The Joint Research Centre's Institute
for Prospective Technological Studies
invites tenders for assisting the revision
of eco-label and green public procurement criteria for selected product groups.
The tenderer will support the revision of
criteria and identify additional research
to be conducted for the following product groups: street lighting and traffic
signals; transport; copying and graphic
paper, newsprint paper and tissue paper;
lubricants. The total budget is worth an
estimated 300,000 (213,000), with
contracts worth between 55,000 and
110,000 per lot.
Web id: 1185855
Contact: Jane Blanklin
Email: jrc-seville-procurement@
ec.europa.eu
EU networking technology
The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology invites tenders for the provision
of a study on the implications of the
emerging technologies software-defined
networking and network function virtualisation on the future telecommunications
landscape. The contract is worth up to
300,000 (213,000).
Web id: 1185822
Contact: Thibaut Kleiner
EU competition policy
The Directorate-General for Competition
invites tenders for a feasibility study on
the microeconomic impact of enforcement of competition policies on innovation. The tenderer will test the feasibility
of using case studies to analyse the impact
of competition policy enforcement decisions on innovation. The contract is worth
up to 150,000 (106,500).
Web id: 1185694
Email: comp-tenders@ec.europa.eu
EU automotive sector
The Directorate-General for Competition
invites tenders for a study on state aid
granted in the automotive sector and on
the link between state aid and potential
foreclosure in downstream motor vehicle
markets and key technology providers.
The study will provide the data to appraise
the role of public funding at various levels
of the automotive supply chain, including
car production and automotive components manufacturing for the purpose of
state aid analysis. The contract is worth
up to 245,000 (174,100).
Web id: 1185762
Email: comp-tenders@ec.europa.eu
activity in fish. Funding is worth up to

250,000 (177,500) per project.
Web id: 1185767
a database on carcinogen doseresponse, including information on
DNA-reactivity, for the threshold of toxicological concern and beyond. Funding is
worth up to 190,000 per project.
Web id: 1185769
develop testing approaches and strategies to provide relevant abiotic and biotic half-lives and confidence around those
rates. Funding is worth up to 100,000
per project. Web id: 1185777
fate and effects of biodegradable
poorly water soluble substances. Funding is worth up to 300,000 per project.
Web id: 1185775
human exposure to emerging chemicals present in the indoor environment.
Funding is worth up to 300,000 per
project. Web id: 1185770
increasing understanding of dietary
toxicity and biotransformation in environmental testing. Funding is worth up to
125,000 per project. Web id: 1185776
rapid assessment for uptake and biotransformation pathways using multiple
lines of in vitro evidence. Funding is worth
up to 500,000. Web id: 1185778
building an acknowledgement of
paternity prenatal developmental toxicity ontology. Funding is worth up to
300,000. Web id: 1185771
EU maritime planning
The Directorate-General for Maritime
Affairs and Fisheries invites proposals
under its call for maritime spatial planning in the northern European Atlantic.
This aims to stimulate the development
of a cross-border, ecosystem-based
approach towards maritime spatial planning among EU member states in the
northern Atlantic region. The grant is
worth up to 2.6 million (1.8m).
Web id: 1185812
Email: mare-e1@ec.europa.eu
EU rodent toxicity
The European Food Safety Authority
invites proposals for a study on in vivo
toxicity and genotoxicity of beauvericin
and enniatins. Funding is available to
support a subchronic oral toxicity study
in rodents. The grant is worth up to
512,000 (363,900).
Web id: 1185838
Contact: Donata Naldini
Email: efsaprocurement@efsa.europa.eu
EU communication campaigns
The Directorate-General for Communication invites tenders for the provision of
services linked to the organisation of
information and communication campaigns. Tenderers will provide a range of
services for the design, implementation,
follow-up and evaluation of information and communication campaigns. The
budget is worth up to 40 million (28m).
Web id: 1185782
Contact: Ioan-Petru Vascan
Email: comm-a2@ec.europa.eu
EU biodiversity economics
Environmental testing
EU ionospheric prediction
The Directorate-General for the Environment invites tenders for the provision of a
study linking biodiversity to national eco-
The European Chemical Industry Council

invites proposals for the following calls:
assessment of potential endocrine
The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

invites tenders for the provision of an ion-

osphere prediction service. The tenderer
will design and develop an ionospheric
prediction service prototype with early
warning and predictions on ionospheric
events, in order to translate the prediction and forecast of the ionosphere into
tangible results and user-devoted metrics. The contract is worth up to 700,000
(497,500) over 24 months.
Web id: 1185802
Email: grow-gp2-call-for-tenders@
ec.europa.eu
EU metrology research 1
The European Association of National
Metrology Institutes (EURAMET), under
the European Metrology Programme for
Innovation and Research, invites stage
two proposals for the following opportunities:
joint research on metrology for
health. Web id: 1185546
pre- and co-normative metrology
projects. Web id: 1185548
SI broader scope metrology projects.
Web id: 1185547
Email: msu@npl.co.uk
EU ICT standardisation
The Digital Agenda for Europe invites
tenders for the provision of experts to
support the identification of technical
specifications to be referenced in public
procurement according to Article 13 of
EU regulation 1025/2012. The contract
is worth up to 15,000 (10,700).
Web id: 1185768
Deadline: 30 December 2015 [139]
europe
other
Renewed opportunities from European
funders, excluding funders based in the UK.
Respiratory fellowships
The European Respiratory Society invites
applications for the final call of its RESPIRE
2 Marie Curie postdoctoral research fellowships. These enable investigators,
clinicals and allied health professionals
to conduct advanced research projects
in respiratory medicine and science in a
European country other than their own.
Each fellowship is worth up to 129,200
(91,700) over two years.
Web id: 259856
EU victims of torture
conduct research in Japan, and Japanese

candidates to conduct research in Europe.
Fellowships are worth between 22,500
(16,000) and 27,500 each.
Web id: 206648
Contact: Suzy Cohen
Email: foundation@canon-europe.com
EU projects in microgravity
The European Space Agency invites proposals to participate in its Fly Your Thesis
call. This enables teams of students to
design and perform scientific experiments
in microgravity as part of their master's
or PhD thesis or research programme.
Up to four teams will be selected to fly
their experiment during a microgravity
research campaign, likely to take place in
autumn 2016 in Bordeaux, France.
Web id: 252208
EU energy infrastructure
The Directorate-General for Energy invites
proposals for its second call for projects
in the field of trans-European energy
infrastructure. This supports projects of
common interest that aim to end energy
isolation, eliminate energy bottlenecks
and complete the internal energy market.
The indicative budget is 550 million
(391m).
Web id: 1179434
Email: inea-cef-energy-calls@ec.europa.
eu
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The Frick Foundation for ALS Research
invites applications for its research
grants. These support basic biomedical
research related to understanding the
cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Grants are worth CHF100,000 (68,000)
each over two years.
Web id: 1160237
Email: ann.kato@unige.ch
Entrepreneurial scholarships
The University of Gothenburg, via the
School of Business, Economics and Law
and the Broman Foundation for Research
and Entrepreneurship, invites applications for its scholarships. These support
scientific research projects in the areas
of entrepreneurship and innovation, and
entrepreneurship in university-industry
relationships. Scholarships are worth
SEK267,000 (20,200)each.
Web id: 257849
Email: maureen.mckelvey@handels.gu.se
The Directorate-General for Migration

and Home Affairs invites proposals for its
funding for the rehabilitation of victims
of torture. This enables rehabilitation
centres in the EU to offer victims of torture
full rehabilitation, thus empowering them
to rebuild their life and dignity and to find
their role in society. Grants are worth
300,000 (213,300) to 750,000 each,
over 18 to 24 months.
Web id: 1175412
Email: home-vot-pp@ec.europa.eu
EU metrology research 2
Europe-Japan travel
Heineken prizes
The Canon Foundation in Europe invites

applications for its research fellowships.
These enable European candidates to
The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts

and Sciences (KNAW) invites applications
for the following prizes:
The European Association of National

Metrology Institutes invites stage two
proposals for research potential projects, under the European Metrology
Programme for Innovation and Research.
Funding supports joint projects on topics
related to metrology. Projects may receive
up to 500,000 (354,800) each.
Web id: 1177456
Email: msu@npl.co.uk
the CL de Carvalho-Heineken prize

for cognitive science. Web id: 187344
the Dr AH Heineken prize for environmental sciences. Web id: 187341
the Dr AH Heineken Prize for history.
Web id: 187343
the Dr AH Heineken prize for medicine. Web id: 187340
the Dr HP Heineken prize for biochemistry and biophysics. Web id: 187339
Email: dianne.van.avendonk@knaw.nl
Diabetes research
The European Foundation for the Study
of Diabetes, supported by AstraZeneca,
invites applications for the following
research programmes:
macrovascular complications of diabetes. Grants are worth up to 300,000
(213,200) each. Web id: 1175400
cellular plasticity underlying the
pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.
Grants are worth up to 100,000 each.
Web id: 1175401
Email: foundation@easd.org
German exchanges
The German Academic Exchange Service
(DAAD) invites applications for its study
scholarships. These enable students in
subjects other than architecture, design,
choreography, dance, theatre, art, music
and jazz to study or research at master's
level in Germany. Scholarships are worth
750 (533) per month.
Web id: 189027
Contact: Vanessa Hbner
Email: scholarships@daad.org.uk
Endocrinology fellowship
The European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology invites applications for its clinical fellowship. This aims to promote the
development of patient care, clinical
management and clinical research in paediatric endocrinology through a training
programme in a European clinical centre.
Web id: 183347
Email: rasa.verkauskiene@kaunoklinikos.lt
Deadline: 31 May 2016 [167]
EU H2020 air pollution

The European Commission Horizon 2020:
Societal Challenges invites applications
for its materials for clean air prize. This
aims to reduce particulate matter air pollution in urban areas through the development of innovative material solutions.
The prize is worth 3 million (2.1m).
Web id: 1180931
rest of world
Opportunities from funders outside of the
UK, Europe and the US.
Land policy in Uganda

The International Initiative for Impact
Evaluation invites qualifications for a
proposal preparation grant to design
rigorous impact evaluations of the new
land policy aimed at curbing illegal land
evictions in Uganda. The grant is worth
US$20,000 (12,800).
Web id: 1185642
Email: pw3@3ieimpact.org
usa
nih
Opportunities from the National Institutes
of Health. Recurring NIH calls include the
next closing date only.
Bioengineering research partnership

non- or minimally-invasive methods to
measure biochemical substances during
neonatal and perinatal patient care
(R01): Aids-related
NIH ref: PAR-15-285
Web id: 1185707
Bioengineering research partnership
non- or minimally-invasive methods to
measure biochemical substances during
neonatal and perinatal patient care (R01)
NIH ref: PAR-15-285
Web id: 1185706
Human studies to evaluate promising
medications to treat alcohol use
disorder (R01)
NIH ref: PA-15-256
Web id: 1185196
Developing the therapeutic potential of
the endocannabinoid system for pain
treatment (R01)
NIH ref: PA-15-188
Web id: 1184969
Dimensional approaches to research
classification in psychiatric disorders
(R01)
NIH ref: RFA-MH-16-510
Web id: 1178885
Administrative supplements for research
on dietary supplements (admin supp)
NIH ref: PAR-15-258
Web id: 1179407
The health of sexual and gender minority
populations (R03)
NIH ref: PA-15-262
Web id: 1166583
The health of sexual and gender minority
populations (R21)
NIH ref: PA-15-263
Web id: 1166585
Immune system plasticity in the pathogenesis and treatment of complex dental,
oral, and craniofacial diseases (R21)
NIH ref: PAR-15-193
Web id: 1184961
Diet and physical activity assessment
methodology (R21)
NIH ref: PAR-15-171
Web id: 255410
disorder (R03)
NIH ref: PA-15-255
Web id: 1185191
disorder (R21)
NIH ref: PA-15-254
Web id: 1185199
18 funding news
usa
other
US funding opportunities available to UK
researchers.
US Department of Defense joint programme committee one/medical simulation and information sciences research
programme metrics: transitioning
training to reality
Web id: 1185582
American Foundation for Aids Research
exploring HIV persistence and eradication investment grants
Web id: 1175804
US Department of Defense military burn
research programme burn injuries
research award
Web id: 1185393
American Association for the Advancement of Science early-career award for
public engagement with science
Web id: 1171236
Bibliographical Society of America Justin G Schiller prize for bibliographical
work on pre-20th century children's
books
Web id: 1173560
IEEE Computer Society/Software Engineering Institute Watts S Humphrey
award
Web id: 1168002
IEEE Computer Society Harlan D Mills
award
Web id: 194978
National Humanities Center fellowships
Web id: 1160718
US Department of Defense Gulf War illness research programme new investigator award
Web id: 1179850
American Chemical Society Petroleum
Research Fund new directions grants
Web id: 196104
American Epilepsy Society research and
training workshops
Web id: 210385
Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical
Observatory Submillimeter array postdoctoral fellowships
Web id: 190023
American Society of Agricultural and
Biological Engineers international food
engineering award
Web id: 200939
Cancer Research Institute clinic and laboratory integration programme grants
Web id: 1169235
Association for Computing Machinery/
Infosys Foundation award in the computing sciences
Web id: 251822
policy diary
July
9 NIHR: RDS Grant Applications
Workshop, Somerset.
http://rsrch.co/1LHR1Me
13 UK Space Conference 2015,
Liverpool. To 15.
http://rsrch.co/1UdfjS2
14 TCCE: Annual Conference, London. http://rsrch.co/1T8nlKA
Missenden Centre: Making your
Research Grant Proposal Succesful, Buckinghamshire. To 15.
http://rsrch.co/Pth4WF
15 AMRC: Essential Research Management, London.
http://rsrch.co/17Zp4zX
Praxis Unico: Growing a Consultancy Business in a University
or Research Institute,
Loughborough. To 17.
http://rsrch.co/1ep0xqk
20 ODI: Open Data in a Day
http://rsrch.co/1dA7aFL
Vitae: Connections Event:
Insights Into Researcher DevelopmentGetting to Grips With
the Job, London.
http://rsrch.co/1T9Kk82
21 ESRC: Understanding Societys
Scientific Conference 2015,
Essex. To 23.
http://rsrch.co/1EfzjNT
BBSRC: Exploring Innovation
Seminar, Nottingham.
http://rsrch.co/1LMe3Te
September
8 Vitae: Researcher Development
International Conference 2015,
Manchester. To 9.
http://rsrch.co/1Js3jpf
15 Praxis Unico: Research Contracts, Loughborough. To 18.
http://rsrch.co/1FXENrM
BBSRC: Media Training Course,
London.
http://rsrch.co/1GUnw3k
17 WBF: Public Procurement in the
UK Competition, Innovation
and Delivering Social Value,
London.
http://rsrch.co/1DMtNmn
23 AHRC: Annual Subject Associations Event 2015, London.
http://rsrch.co/1JBVZrR
October
7 Universities UK: Transnational
Education Conference, London.
http://rsrch.co/1NCsGqh
8 Auril: Annual Conference,
London. To 9.
http://rsrch.co/NERG5O
Vitae: Researcher Development
International Conference,
Manchester. To 9.
http://rsrch.co/1Js3jpf
13 Universities UK: Using Digital
Innovation to Enhance University Marketing and Communications, London.
http://rsrch.co/1JGEVAK
14m for UK-Malaysian projects

Research Councils UK, Innovate UK and the Malaysia Industry
Government Group for High Technology will invest a total of
14.4 million to address the impact of climate change in
Malaysian cities. Projects must involve at least one business
and one research organisation from both countries. The
programme is part of the Newton Fund, and the deadline for
registration is 30 September.
Adult education 'will fail without more funding'
Resources for adult education outside universities have
fallen sharply and services are becoming unsustainable,
according to Alison Wolf, Sir Roy Griffiths professor of public
sector management at King's College London. Wolf says in
her report that the funding of adult education in the UK is
unsustainable, inefficient and unfair.
Crick Institute selects first 20 group leaders
The Francis Crick Institute has selected the first 20 group
leaders to move from their respective universities to
undertake collaborative projects at the institute. Ten men
and ten women will be seconded to the institute from
University College London, Imperial College London and
Kings College London for three to six years.
Research hubs get 15m from CRUK
Cancer Research UK has relaunched three cancer research
labs in Oxford, Manchester and Cambridge as hubs for its
national network of 15 research centres, each receiving an
initial 5-million funding boost. The network focuses on
translational research and the three new Major Centres will
expand on their existing work.
Gates gets serious about renewables
Microsoft founder Bill Gates has urged governments to put
more resources into basic R&D on renewable energy, while
pledging to double his own investment. In an interview
with the Financial Times, Gates said he planned to increase
investment in green technology to $2billion (1.3bn)
over the next five years and there was a good chance his
investment in companies would double in that time.
Aerospace research projects cleared for take off
The UK government has announced it will spend 23 million
on four aerospace research projects as part of a joint government and industry commitment of 2.1 billion for aerospace
R&D, guided by the Aerospace Technology Institute. A further 10m will be available to small aerospace technology
companies in a competition that opens at the end of June.
Newton fellowships bring 80 researchers to UK
The Royal Society, the British Academy and the Academy of
Medical Sciences have announced the first 80 recipients of
the Newton Advanced Fellowships. Researchers from Brazil,
China, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey have won fellowships
lasting up to three years and worth up to 111,000 for
training, collaboration and reciprocal visits with a UK partner.
europe 19
europe
Research commissioner floats plan for

European Innovation Council
Carlos Moedas, the European Unions research commissioner, has proposed the creation of a European
Innovation Council to fund high-risk applied research.
Speaking at an innovation conference on the
European Commissions plans for open science in
Brussels on 22June, Moedas said that the council would
fund innovative applied research in the same way as the
European Research Council (ERC) funds basic science.
I would like us to take stock of the various schemes
to support innovation under Horizon 2020, to look
at best practice internationally, and to design a new
European Innovation Council, he said. This is not for
tomorrow, but I believe we should discuss it as a major
element under the mid-term review of Horizon 2020.
Pointing to the success of the ERC, he said: Europe
does not yet have a world-class scheme to support the
very best innovations in the way that the ERC is the global reference for supporting excellent science.
But critics have already questioned whether such a
scheme would be possible, given the challenges faced
by public bodies in supporting innovation projects.
Innovation is not, in principle, something that governments fund, says Peter Tindemans, the secretary-general
of the scientists lobby group Euroscience. Governments
will never select one innovation over the other because
its seen as promoting one company over the other.
Jerzy Langer, a physicist at the Polish Academy of
Sciences and a prominent research policy adviser, has
europe
in brief
Smits stays on at DG Research

The Dutchman Robert-Jan Smits
is to continue as director-general
for research at the European
Commission, meaning he will remain in charge of implementing Horizon 2020. Eleven of the Commissions
33director-generals will change roles in the autumn, but
the Commission has opted to keep many in place to maintain the necessary stability in certain directorates.
Low success rate for ERC Advanced Grants
A total of 2,287 proposals were submitted for the
European Research Councils Advanced Grants in 2014,
but only 190 grants were awarded, giving a success rate
of 8 per cent. The success rate was lowest in the social
sciences and humanities, in which only 34 of 525 proposals were funded (6.5 per cent). The 190 successful
applicants will share 445 million (316m) in funding.
EUA urges caution on performance-based funding
The allocation of public funds based on institutional
performance can have negative effects, the European
by Jenny Maukola
jemnews@ResearchResearch.com
been calling for the creation of an innovation council

based on the Future and Emerging Technologies programme since 2011. On 3 July, after Moedass proposal,
the FET advisory board that Langer chairs presented a
proposal to the Commission for an innovation council that would be similar to the ERC but for applied
research. It would fund small companies that do not yet
qualify for venture capital funding.
However, Moedass announcement left many observers asking for details of how the council would be set
up and how it would operate. Its a good idea, but its
a raw diamond that has to be shaped into more specific
measures, says Horst Soboll, a former chairman of the
European Research Advisory Board.
Andrew Sors, a senior adviser at the EuroTech
Universities Alliance, says it would be especially important to select a representative mix of people to govern
the council, as innovation is not as clearly defined as
basic science. The things that are clearly working well
for the ERC, such as independence, clear evaluation and
avoiding conflicts of interest, are fundamentally more
challenging when it comes to setting up a model for
innovation, he says.
Moedas said that the Commission was aiming to have
a more detailed proposal in place by Horizon 2020s midterm review, due by 2017.
University Association has said. The EUA recommends
that universities avoid direct links between the remuneration or career development of staff and performance
indicators, and that policymakers resist using indicators
that were not developed to inform funding decisions.
Presidency outlines plan for research integrity
The Luxembourg presidency of the Council of Ministers
has said that it intends to align national approaches to
research integrity during its six-month term. A representative said that national ministers would be asked
to discuss an agreement on research integrity, based on
guidelines from the European Science Foundation and
the OECD. Luxembourg assumed the presidency on 1 July.
EU and China strike co-funding deal
The European Union is to contribute to a joint EU-China
fund for research and innovation through Horizon 2020,
it was decided at the 17th EU-China summit on 29 June
in Brussels. China also confirmed its strong interest
in participating in the European Fund for Strategic
Investments, and the EU in Chinas equivalent scheme.
20 view
v i e w f r o m t h e t o p n i c o l e j a n z
Replication education
As a political scientist, I often write to authors asking for
their data sets. Here are some of their answers.
I only have some of my electronic files with me during this trip, and the material from the article is not,
unfortunately, among them. I would be happy to collect
these for you once I have access to the files. (I never
got those data, even after following up several times.)
I will definitely send the data file when I can clean
it up a bit. Let me see what I can dig up. (This author
never wrote to me again.)
I would be more than happy to share my data with
you, but I am currently swamped and have not had time
to clean up the data set that you requested. (As you can
probably guess, I never got those data.)
Such experiences made me so frustrated about the
state of reproducibility in research that in 2013 I created
the Cambridge Replication Workshop. In the workshop,
15 to 20 graduate students from a variety of disciplines
are tasked with replicating a paper in their field over the
course of eight weeks.
The first four sessions focus on picking a paper,
downloading or re-collecting its data and reproducing
its results. In the second half of the course, students
add value to the replication by adjusting the model or
adding improved measurements, and they then write
up a paper draft. At the end of the course, all students
upload their papers and supporting materials to our
class repository.
Several of my students have now published their
studies in peer-reviewed journals or as working papers.
I advise them not to mention replication in their titles,
but rather to sell a good hypothesis and then add that
they are reusing published data.
The course can be frustrating. Students come up
against inaccessible data, unclear variables, vague analyses, opaque statistics and authors who are unwilling or
unable to respond to requests for help. One of my students
was moved to name his statistical analyses nightmare1,
nightmare2 and so on.
So why do students sign up to
my course? First, replication
using real-life data, with all its
bugs and complicationsis a
great way to learn statistics. By
interrogating an original study,
students come to understand
authors decisions about, for
example, variable transformations, missing observations and
model specifications.
Second, students get published, showing that they can
The hope is that

courses such as
this will help future
researchers develop
an automatic
and natural
reproducibility
routine.
conduct important research that adds value to a previous study. They are not just hunting for errors, and they
articulate their reservations about published work in a
professional way.
Third, and most important, students build reproducibility into their own research. At some point in
the course, students exchange their codes and data,
checking each others workmeaning that it has to
be comprehensible and reproducible. In addition, the
courses frustrations are an effective, if painful, lesson
in when published results are reproducible and when
they are not.
Many of my students felt galvanised to improve their
methods because of what they had encountered in the
workshop, and now work in a more transparent way in
their own projects, keeping logs and uploading data.
One student wrote that the course taught me so much
about how to publish legitimate and correct research. I
cannot wait to apply my knowledge to other projects.
The hope is that courses such as this will help future
researchers to develop an automatic and natural reproducibility routine. Not many senior researchers are
likely to conduct replication studies, but replication
in university teaching can help to improve standards
in research and show early-career researchers how to
uphold those standards.
For teachers, it will be important to share information on who assigns replication studies, what a typical
syllabus looks like and how students can publish their
results. We need a discussion on how to connect teachers and store class materials in a more systematic way,
and a platform or website for sharing experience and
solutions could be useful. One way to connect people
who teach replication is through the Political Science
Replication Initiative, an online platform that invites
students and their course instructors to upload replication studies conducted in class.
Allegations of fraud or sloppiness in researchmost
recently Sciences retraction of a paper by the political
scientist Michael LaCour because of concerns about
data fabricationhave stirred debate on reproducibility, prompted calls for changes to research practice, and
harmed academics public reputation. Credible and valid
research relies on universities nurturing a culture of
reproducibility and replication.
Nicole Janz is a political scientist at the University of
Cambridge and a research methods associate at the
universitys Social Sciences Research Methods Centre. She
blogs at www.politicalsciencereplication.wordpress.com
view 21
k l o c h i k h i n & l a m b e v i e w f r o m t h e t o p
A better way to classify science

The past 20 years have seen genomics reshape the life
sciences, nanotechnology drive materials research and
chemistry, and climate change figure large in the Earth
sciences. Megaprojects such as the BRAIN initiative
in the United States and the European Human Brain
Project may remake neuroscience and bioinformatics.
And yet, to give one example, the most recent directive
from the US Office of Management and Budget detailing
Fields of Science dates back to 1978.
The names we give to disciplines matter, because the
understanding and assessment of researchand ultimately policy and funding decisionsare rooted in this
initial description. The Fields of Science classification
is used to develop reports and statistics to review and
evaluate science investments. Research taxonomies
should help us to establish a clear link between these
investments, outputs such as publications and patents,
and outcomes such as economic growth, employment
and an improved environment.
Using obsolete classifications, statistics produce only
snapshots of a complex and multidimensional science
value chainand are weighted towards the input, or
funding, end of the chain. It is also uncertain whether
different reporters are classifying their activities in consistent and reliable ways. Inputs, outputs and outcomes
are often accompanied by substantive descriptions and
abundant textual data, but these data are typically
unstructured and messy.
The task is to clean, process and ultimately classify
this information in a useful and replicable way, so that
policymakers can make better links between funding
decisions and outcomes. The aim is to produce markers
of activity all the way through the science value chain
and map connections between all aspects of the science
production cycle.
Text mining and machine learning offer powerful
tools for this task. Instead of trying to fit what researchers do into predefined categories, they allow us to map
the terrain of research, revealing boundaries, regions of
overlap and a richness of detail. We are part of a team
exploring their potential, testing a range of machine
classification techniques on a grant from the US National
Science Foundation.
Compared with manual methods, any computational
technique needs to be: at least as accurate as human
classification; consistent across time; cost effective;
reliable across different science corpora; and replicable.
In the first phase, we are using corpora such as dissertaEvgeny Klochikhin is a researcher at the American
Institutes for Research in Washington DC. Patrick Lambe
is a founder and partner at Straits Knowledge, Singapore.
tions and project grants, because these have manually

curated classifications for comparison. Identifying disciplinesthe most accessible comparison setis the
first milestone.
As well as reproducing human categories, we expect
to add depth to existing classifications. We need to
be able to describe different aspects of research, such
as methodologies, technologies, problems and socio
economic objectives served, not just disciplines. With
this, we expect to reveal hitherto unseen interactions:
between disciplines; between disciplines and technologies; and between disciplines, technologies and
socioeconomic outcomes.
Two computer methods that are able to provide
consistent and reliable disciplinary classifications are
topic modelling, which classifies texts based on sets
of co-occurring words, and wikilabelling, which mines
encyclopaedic knowledge from Wikipedia pages and
other repositories.
These approaches analyse document characteristics
and apply external knowledge graphs, which trace the
relationships between concepts in different classifications, to define the degree to which a document relates
to a given research area. For example, an award abstract
on genetics might be classified as biology, biochemistry,
medical sciences or synthetic biology, depending on the
context and content of the document. Topic modelling
and wikilabelling, curated by expert users, are able to
discover these multidisciplinary tags.
Once machine methods have proved reliable, the same
model can be applied to other documents, including
publications, patents and policy notes. Analysts and
policymakers will be able to interrogate the literary
deposits of scientific activity in great depth and from
different perspectives. They will be able to test hypotheses about productive combinations of disciplines,
problem sets and technologies, and track outcomes.
The goals of an improved classification system are similar to those of the
Research Excellence Framework. The
case studies and peer control used by
the REF are valid measures, but they
provide depth rather than breadth.
Robust computational techniques for
machine classification, combined with
statistical analysis, can augment and
test the insights produced by human
evaluators, and help reduce the uncertainties in the science funding cycle.
Something to add? Email comment@
ResearchResearch.com
Machine
methods will
be able to test
hypotheses
about productive
combinations of
disciplines, and
track outcomes.
22 view
v i e w f r o m t h e t o p r i c h a r d b o n d
You cant measure impact

without imposing values
As we gear up for another Research Excellence Frame
work (REF) in 2020 or thereabouts, there is talk of
changing and expanding the portion of the assessment
focused on impact. Universities may be asked to provide
more case studies, and assessments may become more
finely grained.
But these technical discussions miss a larger point.
Research impact might seem a self-evidently good
thing. But is it? As things stand, we dont know: there
is no requirement or expectation that panels will decide
whether the impacts set before them are what weas
individuals, as a sector or as a nationactually want.
Instead, impact, as conceived in the REF and by
funders, is essentially an objective, value-free criterion. Any impact is eligible and should be considered
outstanding if it can be shown to be far-reaching and
highly significant.
In theory, for example, a case study describing
research that underpinned the development of a weapon
of mass destruction should score very highly. Perhaps
no institution or individual would want to claim such
an impact. But what if you believed in the deterrence
value of weapons of mass destruction? Then it should be
considered truly outstanding impactalthough it would
be a brave institution that submitted such a case study.
However, I would argue that probably all case studies are to some degree contentious, and that their true
assessment cannot rest on an objective evaluation of
reach and significance, but has to embrace values, ethics, politics and ideologies.
Taking a more realistic example, lets say that my
research led to a life-saving drug. My case study presents
a compelling argument, my institution is rewarded and
I get the plaudits.
What my case study doesnt mention is that the company that developed the drug is charging the NHS an
exorbitant amount, meaning that other
patients are missing out on treatment.
Perhaps also, unknown to me, the same
company is conducting less-than-ethical
clinical trials of a different drug in a
developing country with a questionable
human rights record.
Perhaps the company has built a
manufacturing plant there, exploiting
the workforce and enriching the government. And maybe as a consequence,
a UK-based competitor has gone out
of business, with hundreds of redun-
True
assessment
has to
embrace
values, ethics,
politics and
ideologies.
dancies leading to poverty, loss of taxes and a greater

demand on our social and health services. The possibilities are endless.
Most case studies, if explored to their outer limits,
would show that a researchers work has, unbeknown
to him or her, created a complex range of effects that
may be beneficial or harmful. Judging which is which is
largely a matter of personal values.
Asking REF panels to make value judgements would
be fraught with problems, yet that is what they are
already doing implicitly. Perhaps the answer is to try to
disentangle the assessment of research excellence from
the assessment of research impact. If we want selective
funding to be partly driven by measures such as impact,
some changes to assessment are necessary.
Peer review may be suited to determining the quality of research, but it is surely not an effective means
of assessing the value of impact even with users on REF
panels. Excellence is not a prerequisite for impactso
impactful research ought not to have to reach a quality
thresholdand we should try to find more appropriate
forms of evidence than illustrative case studies. Finally,
the definition of benefits to society should challenge
institutions to show how they have contributed towards
achieving benefits, not just impact.
The danger is that this will lead to a utilitarian solutionhow do we decide, and who decides, what good
impacts are? We know what types of impact the Treasury
and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
would prioritise.
But to avoid tackling these issues in favour of keeping a system that encourages a narrowly positivist view
that all impact is good impact, and assesses it on the evidence of self-glorifying narratives, seems unsustainable.
Despite the difficulties of placing impact in the context of values, we have an obligation to acknowledge the
elephant in the room. By assessing and rewarding the
extent of changes and effects brought about by research,
the REF has asked academics to take responsibility, and
credit, for the consequences of their work. We should
not shirk from doing so, but this requires a better understanding of the complexities of impact.
Should we care what impact we make as long as we
make it? We should, and so should the REF.
Richard Bond is the head of research administration and
REF manager at the University of the West of England,
Bristol. He writes here in a personal capacity.
view 23
i s m a e l r a f o l s v i e w f r o m t h e t o p
Research assessment needs a

local dimension
Traditionally, scientific knowledge aspires to universality. We value above all elegant, parsimonious and
far-reaching explanations, such as Maxwells equations
of electromagnetism and the codification of life in DNA.
This ethos tends to permeate evaluation exercises,
with general knowledge often perceived as more valuable than research on particular issues. A contribution
to a cardiovascular drug of global application might, for
example, be perceived as more important than primary
health programmes developed in and for specific communities, the wider relevance of which is still unclear.
Yet most scholarship addresses a specific issue in
a particular context. A prejudice at evaluation stage
against research that focuses on local knowledge, contexts and communities acts as a disincentive to research
in areas where society needs to address pressing problems. We therefore need to find ways to appreciate the
value of local knowledge. But to do so, we have to reconsider some of our beliefs about research.
First, we must recognise that most of the activities
carried out in universities or research centres are not
science as understood in the natural sciences. Many
academic fields deal instead with knowledge that is
inherently and explicitly specific, particular and often
very local. This may be a particular socioeconomic issue,
a technology aimed at a certain sector, or a unique
example of culture. It follows that the perceived value
of the research will depend on the importance accorded
to these particular contexts, sectors, issues or cultures.
Smaller contexts may suffer in evaluation. Manage
ment scholars who use UK data may find it more difficult
to publish in the most prestigious journals than those
who use data from the United States. Similarly, scholars
in Occitan literature may be less prominent than those
who study French.
Another possibility is that research might be less visible not because it is geographically local, but because
of some inequality. The impact of work on pollution in
poor neighbourhoods or diseases such as leishmaniasis
might be reduced because these are problems of disenfranchised or less visible populations. This work accrues
less investment, which translates into fewer publications, which may lead to fewer citations.
Ismael Rafols is a science policy researcher at Ingenio,
a joint institute of the Spanish Research Council and
the Polytechnic University of Valencia, and a visiting
fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit at the
University of Sussex.
It follows from these considerations that the evaluation of most research needs to go beyond peer review
and include the participation of those with a stake in its
effectiveness. Evaluation exercises in the UK are world
leaders in this regard: panels in the Research Excellence
Framework (REF) included research users, and proposals
to research councils are asked to describe pathways to
impact with stakeholders participation.
An evaluation team composed of both peers and locals
would be in a better position to assess the local value
of the knowledge produced. It could ask, for example,
whether some state-of-the-art genomic research carried
out in Buenos Aires on Chagas disease is helpful or not
in the Argentinian provinces where the disease occurs.
National exercises of a centralised nature such as the
REF or research council panels are unlikely to have the
capacity to value local research. The difficulty is that, as
each project would need to be assessed by its own users,
blanket evaluation exercises may not be able to cope
with the large variety of relevant local contexts.
Most of the knowledge produced in academia has a
local facet; it needs to be assessed with the participation of the relevant locals. This might seem like an
argument for parochialism. But local knowledge is not
only valuable in the communities where it is produced.
The so-called grand challenges such as ageing, migration, pandemics, food security and climate change need
diverse approaches at multiple scales.
In most cases, explanations of global effects and
trends need to be rooted in an understanding of local
conditions. This is why the worth of local knowledge
should be assessed by those involved and affected, at
both a local and a more global level.
A fair evaluationand one that occurs at the appropriate scaleof local research is thus imperative to support
smaller or disenfranchised communities and to address global challenges.
As David Willetts, the former science
minister, wrote in these pages when
the results of the REF were released
in December [RF 18/12/15, p10], we
need to develop methods and policy
instruments to support research that is
excellent according to its local value.
These instruments and methods will
need to be developed with and by the
local communities concerned.
Something to add? Email comment@
ResearchResearch.com
Challenges
such as ageing,
migration,
pandemics, food
security and
climate change
need diverse
approaches.
24 interesting if true
interesting if true
Labouring the point In the last parliament, the Labour
Party was very squeamish about committing to any specifics on research funding, while for three years Lib Dem
MP Julian Huppert called for a 3 per cent rise above inflation. With the Lib Dems now all but destroyed, Labour
appears to have stolen that linewith Liam Byrne and
Yvette Cooper both now calling for something they didnt
dare to just three months ago. Shameless!
Paper over the cracks You may have sussed Elseviers
booming interest in creating and selling metrics for
use in research evaluation. Cynics say it is driven by the
threats to Elseviers business model for journal subscriptions in the era of open access and online publishing.
Metrics may be the future for the Anglo-Dutch publisher.
But so may old-fashioned printed books, it seemsall
you have to do is charge enough. Last week we received
an email inviting us to buy a newly published magnificent hardcover book detailing essential research
indicators from around the world, priced at 993.
P olitical impact Speaking of metrics, your correspondent was given cause to wonder whether the next
Research Excellence Framework will recognise support
in the House of Commons, after spotting an Early Day
Motion praising the University of St. Andrews con-
tinued success in higher education league tables. The

motion, tabled by Stephen Gethins, MP for North East
Fife, the constituency home to St Andrews, has received
21 signatures to date; perhaps not surprisingly, all but
two are from members of the Scottish National Party.
Artful dodger Around 60 people squeezed into a stuffy
room in the House of Commons on 2 July for the launch
of Ann Dowlings review of university-business collaboration. Although the government is keen to stress that
impact takes many forms, business impact still gets the
most attention. As Dowling herself pointed out, the
hierarchy of impact is as entrenched as ever: Although
I wouldnt want to discourage anyone from working with
industry, she said, its fair to say that if youre a professor of poetry my report might not be for you.
A in t no mountain Everyone has had to suffer teambuilding activities, but weve never come across a
leaving do that sounds quite like the one EMBL-EBI
threw for Janet Thornton after her 14 years at the helm.
In the Handover on Data Mountain challenge, teams
competed to scale the mountain by solving 3D puzzles
and using ordnance survey maps to enable incoming
directors Ewan Birney and Rolf Apweiler to relieve
Janet on the summit.
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Scientists push government for

British Museum Impact on our terms p6

Tensions bubble below

Influential review to favour human judgement over data in REF

level scores and metrics allows for a far more accurate

Research Fortnight, 8 July 2015

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Research Fortnight, 8 July 2015

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Research Fortnight, 8 July 2015

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Issue no. 460

JRF reducing poverty

Each entry is followed by a Web id

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Wellcome investigator awards in

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Directorate-General for Energy

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JRF reducing poverty

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Thermal power research

The Energy Technology Institute invites

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The Ministry of Defence's Centre of

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Innovate UK and the National Council of

MRC quality of life

Maternity care travel

Renewed opportunities from funders based

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