Annex 1
Extracts from the March 2006 "Next Steps"
document, relevant for issues addressed here: inter-disciplinarity,
cross-Council investments, and Knowledge Transfer
On research strategy...
"...the Government is keen to ensure
that excellent research of all types is rewarded, including user-focused
and inter-disciplinary research."
On supporting high-risk research...
"Research Councils are responding by
providing more flexible, long-term programme funding."
"...the UK is still susceptible to a
charge of risk aversion, as classic peer review criteria emphasise
tests of scholarship over potential impact."
"There are well-recognised challenges
in assessing the quality of inter-disciplinary activity, and Research
Councils are addressing these. However, further progress may be
required to support inter-disciplinary research... for the transfer
of ideas from one field to another."
"The Government invites views on measures
to remove any remaining bias which unfairly favours established
research fields over innovative ones."
On improving Research Councils' effectiveness..
,
"...the Government believes there is
scope to maximise opportunities for knowledge transfer and increase
the impact of excellent research on the wider economy."
"Research Councils will be exploring
the scope for... sharing... and will review best practise in the
peer review process."
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