Memorandum 47
Submission from Research Councils UK (RCUK)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Research Councils believe engineering is
vital both to the UK economy and to society in general. We seek
to support a full spectrum of research and postgraduate training
within engineering and work to ensure that that the research climate
for engineering in the UK is vibrant. Individual Councils may
intervene to ensure that there is sufficient research capacity
in key areas for the UK, for example through Science and Innovation
Awards.
Engineers and engineering are enabling new developments
in many diverse areas of research. The Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) has the specific remit to encourage
blue sky adventurous engineering research across the entire spectrum,
to ensure that basic science and technology are translated into
applications, and to identify and nurture emerging areas. EPSRC
expenditure in 2007-08 will be £342 million, on current plans
this expenditure will rise during the forthcoming Comprehensive
Spending Review period to £378 million in 2010-11. However,
Research Council interest and funding extends beyond this where
individual Councils develop novel engineering and applications
which enhance the research and knowledge base in their areas of
interest, for example in medical and bioengineering, earth observation,
and in the provision of major research facilities.
The Research Councils recognise the importance
of strong partnerships and engagement with research users in business
and the public sector in order to meet their needs and increase
knowledge transfer and economic impact. Such engagement is developed
both through researcher-led grant funding and strategic partnerships
between the Councils and other stakeholders. The Research Councils
are also working closely with the Technology Strategy Board to
ensure the effective translation of knowledge into innovation
and new and improved products and services.
The impact of research extends far beyond the
economic and has major social implications. We believe that research
is crucial in informing and developing the solutions needed to
address the Government's five public policy challenges for the
UK, and to improve quality of life and provide a sustainable environment.
RCUK is co-ordinating ambitious cross-Council programmes to address
these challenges that will involve new ways of multi-disciplinary
working and combine resources from a range of bodies. We also
have a wider role in communicating the major impact of engineers
and engineering innovation.
Future research will require appropriately trained
multidisciplinary researchers. The Research Councils currently
support over 3,300 PhD students in the area of engineering, which
include over 600 Engineering Doctorate (EngD) Research Engineers.
The EngD is a radical alternative to the traditional PhD, being
better suited to the needs of industry and providing a more vocationally
oriented doctorate in engineering. Using a similar centre-based
approach to training EPSRC will also be increasing the number
of PhD Doctoral Training Centres which focus on specific research
themes, many relevant to engineering, and involve strong industrial
engagement. In addition, BBSRC is increasingly supporting CASE
studentships in bioengineering.
RCUK INTRODUCTION
1. Research Councils UK is a strategic partnership
set up to champion the research supported by the seven UK Research
Councils. RCUK was established in 2002 to enable the Councils
to work together more effectively to enhance the overall impact
and effectiveness of their research, training and innovation activities,
contributing to the delivery of the Government's objectives for
science and innovation. Further details are available at .www.rcuk.ac.uk.
2. This evidence is submitted by RCUK on
behalf of Research Councils and represents their independent views.
It does not include or necessarily reflect the views of the Science
and Innovation Group in the Department for Innovation, Universities
and Skills. The submission is made on behalf of the following
Councils:
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research
Council (BBSRC)-Annex A;
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
Council (EPSRC)-Annex B;
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)-Annex
C; and the
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
(STFC).
3. All the above Research Councils have
contributed to the main text of this response; some councils have
provided additional specific information about their research
in separate Annexes, as indicated above.
DEFINITION OF
ENGINEERING
4. The international review of UK engineering
research, The Wealth of a Nation,[151]
jointly organised by EPSRC and the Royal Academy of Engineering
and published in 2005 stated that engineering creates goods, services
and infrastructure that benefits human kind. The breadth of research
within engineering is demonstrated by assessment units of the
2008 RAE Engineering panel:
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering;
- General Engineering and Mineral & Mining
Engineering (includes aspects of bio and medical engineering);
- Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing
Engineering; and
- Metallurgy and Materials.
5. Engineering is also of relevance in two
areas outside the main panel:
- Computer Science and Informatics;
- Architecture and the Built Environment;
and
- Bio-engineering also includes tissue and
protein engineering, biochemical engineering and bioprocessing,
as well as aspects of bioremediation, food technology and bionanotechnology.
THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERING
AND ENGINEERS
IN UK SOCIETY
6. Engineering makes an essential contribution
to society, with engineers being involved in solving some of the
most prominent issues affecting society today. Engineering research
funded through the Research Councils is making an impact across
a diverse range of areas, such as mobile communication technology,
climate change mitigation and improving screening techniques to
detect explosives.
7. The 2007 Royal Academy of Engineering
and the Engineering and Technology Board study into Public
Attitudes to and Perceptions of Engineering and Engineers[152]
showed that the public have little understanding of the social
relevance of engineering or of the role that engineers play in
society. The profile of engineering and engineers and the relevance
of their work to society need to be raised with the public.
8. RCUK works to improve public awareness
of engineering research and the role of research engineers in
society. Engineering related press releases have attracted much
media attention. Recent highlights include a practical solution
to the storage of hydrogen for fuel cell powered cars, UK involvement
in the international effort to produce a comprehensive model of
the heart, and a debate about the issues surrounding future "rights
for robots". The BA Festival of Science provides an opportunity
to engage with the public about engineering and how engineering
tackles issues directly relevant to society. Topics have included
flood prevention, urban design, transformation of brownfield sites,
improving quality of life for disabled people, and the role of
engineering research in sport development.
9. It is also important for Research Councils
and engineers to understand the potential societal and ethical
issues, aspirations and implications of engineering research.
In 2006 EPSRC and BBSRC took part in the Nanodialogues to learn
about public views around nanotechnology; as RCUK, we undertook
a public dialogue about energy research priorities in 2007; and
in 2008 EPSRC, on behalf of RCUK, will conduct a dialogue with
the public about their views, aspirations and issues associated
with nanotechnology for healthcare.
10. RCUK is just one of many stakeholder
organisations with a role to play in highlighting the benefit
of engineering and engineers to society. This is a key activity
for organisations such as the Royal Academy of Engineering, the
Engineering Technology Board and the Learned Societies, and we
look for opportunities to work together as RCUK and with others
to maximise influence, effectiveness and impact.
THE ROLE
OF ENGINEERING
AND ENGINEERS
IN UK'S
INNOVATION DRIVE
11. he primary role of Research Councils
in the innovation ecosystem is to support world-class, leading-edge
basic research and to sustain the supply of highly skilled people
at postgraduate level. Research Councils also promote, in partnership
with other stakeholders, the transfer of knowledge from their
investments in the research base to potential users (private and
public sector). The nature and outputs of engineering research
demonstrate the fundamental importance of basic research in supporting
innovation.
12. he Research Councils believe that research
is crucial in informing and developing the solutions needed to
address the Government's five public policy challenges for the
UK. RCUK is co-ordinating ambitious cross-Council programmes that
will involve new ways of multi-disciplinary working, combining
resources from a range of bodies, to address the key challenges.
Each of the challenges highlighted will require researchers across
the spectrum of engineering to be engaged if they are to achieve
their objectives.
- "Energy" brings together energy-related
research and training across the Councils to address the vital
international issues of climate change and security of energy
supply.
- "Living with Environmental Change"
is an interdisciplinary research and policy partnership programme
to increase resilience to-and reduce costs of-environmental change,
addressing the associated pressures on natural resources, ecosystem
services, economic growth and social progress.
- "Global Threats to Security"
will integrate research into crime, terrorism, environmental stress
and global poverty, to address causes of threats to security,
their detection, and possible interventions to prevent harm.
- "Ageing Lifelong Health and Wellbeing"
will establish new interdisciplinary research centres targeting
the major determinants of health and wellbeing over the whole
life course and reducing dependency in later life.
Table 1
PLANNED EXPENDITURE FOR THE CROSS-COUNCIL
PROGRAMMES (£M)
|
| AHRC
| BBSRC | EPSRC
| ESRC | MRC
| NERC | STFC
| Total |
|
| Energy | 0 |
23 | 240
| 20 | 0
| 22 | 14
| 319 |
| LWEC | 5 |
16 | 26
| 20 | 57
| 237 | 2
| 363 |
| Global Threats to Security | 21
| 5 | 17
| 23 | 45
| 1 | 2
| 113 |
| Ageing | 1 |
41 | 31
| 30 | 370
| 1 | 12
| 485 |
|
| Figures represent planned expenditure (£M) over CSR period. Figures are rounded to the nearest £ million.
|
13. In addition to the major cross-Council programmes,
the Research Councils are working on two multi-disciplinary projects.
These multi-disciplinary programmes are part of much larger bodies
of work being undertaken by the Research Councils on these areas.
Again both of these areas require engineering and engineers to
be at the core of activities:
- Delivering a Digital Economy through early adoption
of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools supported
by research capacity and skilled people, better positions the
country to reap the economic and social benefits of technological
change.
- Nanotechnologies can transform society, they offer the
potential of disruptive step changes in electronic materials,
optics, computing, and in the application of physical and chemical
understanding (in combination with biology) to generate novel
and innovative self-assembled systems.
14. Further examples of major investments which require
engineers to be leading research activity include:
- Improving the quality of life of the UK citizen through
the Sustainable Urban Environment programme, this aims to support
the sustainable development of the UK economy. Multidisciplinary
consortia have been funded, involving academic researchers from
a range of disciplines working closely with a range of users,
such as local authorities, town planners, city councils and charities.
- Bringing new treatments a step closer by helping to
develop faster and more efficient development and manufacturing
techniques, through the Bioprocessing Research Industry Club (BRIC),
a public-private collaboration between BBSRC, EPSRC and the UK
biopharmaceutical sector.
- Working to realise a step-change in energy research,
development and demonstration (R, D&D) in the UK and internationally.
EPSRC is the largest public funder of the Energy Technologies
Institute (ETI),[153]
working in partnership with others, including the Technology Strategy
Board.
- Supporting research into sustainable power generation
and supply, through SUPERGEN consortia. This multidisciplinary
initiative is managed and led by EPSRC in partnership with BBSRC,
ESRC, NERC and the Carbon Trust. The initiative aims to help the
UK meet its environmental emissions targets through a radical
improvement in the sustainability of power generation and supply.
15. The Research Councils are working closely with the
Technology Strategy Broad to ensure the effective translation
of knowledge into innovation and new and improved products and
services. Effective working relationships have been developed
through a range of partnership activities:
- Collaborative R&D projects; for example the Research
Councils are working with the Technology Strategy Board on its
"Technologies for Health" call, for which TSB has set
aside £15 million.
- Innovation platforms addressing grand challenges, here
a partnership of Councils and TSB are supporting a programme in
Network Security, which also involved the Immigration and Passport
Service.
- Research Technology Clubs, there have been new investments
made in the bioprocessing, and diet and health areas.
- Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs), the networks can
act as agents towards the identification of Small and Medium-sized
Enterprises for Research Council schemes such as Industrial CASE.
16. We recognise the importance of strong partnerships
and engagement with research users to improve, and increase, knowledge
transfer and economic impact. Engineering Research supported by
EPSRC has significant levels of interaction and collaboration
with business and users. In total 34% of EPSRC Engineering Grants
are conducted in collaboration with users, involving approximately
1,800 companies, with the combined cash and in-kind contributions
valued at over £244 million over the lifetime of the projects.
Other Councils also have many and varied interactions with industrial
and other users, such as BBSRC's Industrial Partnership Awards.
17. EPSRC has developed Strategic Partnerships which
provide a framework for supporting mutually beneficial activities
with more than 20 companies. The partnerships that have significant
engineering interest include:
- Proctor and Gamble; and
18. To enhance and stimulate leading-edge research, the
Research Councils support major centres of excellence whose key
role is to bring academia and industrial research expertise closer
together to enable innovation:
- EPSRC currently supports 16 Innovative Manufacturing
Research Centres (IMRCs). This provides the UK's leading manufacturing
researchers with a base of stable yet flexible funding, enabling
them to be responsive to the needs of UK industry and pursue strategic
research themes in partnership.
- Innovation and Knowledge Centres are centres of excellence
to accelerate and promote business exploitation of an emerging
research and technology field. Their key feature is a shared space
and entrepreneurial environment, in which researchers, potential
customers and skilled professionals from both academia and business
can work side-by-side to scope applications, business models and
routes to market.
- The £10 million Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration
in Proteomic Technologies funded by BBSRC and EPSRC is a unique
research programme to advance proteomics and its application in
the life science and biomedical research. Drawing on interdisciplinary
and complementary skills it aims to design new proteomics methods
and equipment that will solve cutting edge research challenges.
19. Research Councils seek to accelerate the commercial
impact of the research they fund with the Follow-on Fund which
supports researchers through the early stages of development,
enabling promising research outputs to be translated into a commercial
proposition which the market is then able to pick up. People movement
is also a key enabler of knowledge transfer. Research Assistants
Industrial Secondments (RAIS) encourages the transfer into business
of knowledge gained by Research Assistants working on EPSRC projects.
Research Assistants are seconded for up to 12 months to a company
at the end of the research project. The company will usually have
been a collaborator on the research project.
THE STATE
OF THE
ENGINEERING SKILLS
BASE IN
THE UK, INCLUDING
THE SUPPLY
OF ENGINEERS
AND ISSUES
OF DIVERSITY
20. People are at the heart of knowledge and skills;
a secure future supply of researchers is essential for the research
base and industry to be able to respond to as yet unforeseen challenges,
to identify future opportunities, and to transfer knowledge. Research
Councils continue to make major investments in innovative doctoral
training provision.
21. The Research Councils have a joint strategy for enhancing
the quality and output of the UK research base through training
the next generation of world-class researchers. They will assist
universities to improve the quality of their research training
and improve the employability of early stage researchers.
22. A UK Higher Education sector working group co-ordinated
by RCUK and Universities UK is developing a revised concordat
to support the Career Development of Researchers. It provides
a statement of the expectations and responsibilities of research
funders and institutions with respect to the management of researchers.
It will be launched in June and include the principle that "Diversity
and equality must be promoted in all aspects of the recruitment
and career management of researchers". RCUK also has a Memorandum
of Understanding with the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET.
23. Discovery and innovation in engineering happen through
creative people working in a high quality research environment.
EPSRC currently supports over 8,000 individual investigators who
hold research grants across the breadth of engineering. Each Council
also supports investigators applying novel engineering to specific
application areas of interest. Individual engineers can also be
supported via fellowships from postdoctoral through to senior
academic fellows. EPSRC currently supports over 100 academic fellowships
across engineering. Postdoctoral fellows are also supported across
engineering through the joint Royal Academy of Engineering/EPSRC
scheme.
24. A number of areas of research in the UK (including
within engineering) have been identified as being unable to sustain
the research capacity needed in the future, including the production
of enough well-trained people and the development of leaders of
research teams. EPSRC has sought to address this through Science
and Innovation awards, which are large, long-term grants (typically
£3-5 million over five years) supporting staff in a research
group, with commitment from the host Higher Education Institution(s)
to continue support after the end of the grant. So far EPSRC has
funded, in partnership with the funding councils, 24 Science and
Innovation Awards; including key areas of engineering such as
electronics design, bio-chemical engineering, renewable energy,
carbon capture, tribology and structural ceramics.
25. Much of the Research Councils support in postgraduate
training is provided through the flexible funding to Universities
to allow them to respond quickly to training requirements. It
is hoped that a number of their key strategy inputs come from
industry. In order to allow industry a direct input to meeting
their training needs Research Councils allocate industrial CASE
studentship awards directly to a company for a project and academic
partner of their choosing. Over 200 Industrial CASE students are
currently funded with direct relevance to engineering research.
26. EPSRC currently supports over 3,300 PhD studentships
across its delivery mechanisms with direct relevance to engineering
research. Where we have appropriate data, three quarters of these
students are male and over 85% between 20-30 years of age. In
addition to PhD research carried out in fundamental engineering,
the other Research Councils support PhD programmes across a spread
of application areas from bio to earth engineering.
27. The Engineering Doctorate (EngD) was established
in 1992 to provide a high-quality, broad-based doctoral research
experience with a taught component relevant to the needs of users.
A 2006 review[154]
of the scheme was "convinced of the value and performance
of the EngD scheme, the quality of the intake and outputs, and
the contribution it makes to EPSRC strategic objectives by providing
high quality knowledge transfer through people". The EngD
is a radical alternative to the traditional PhD, being better
suited to the needs of industry and providing a more vocationally
oriented doctorate in engineering. EPSRC currently supports 620
EngD Research Engineers. EngD centres can be established in any
area, however EPSRC has established the following centres in direct
response to identified industry need:
- Non-Destructive Evaluation-Imperial College;
- Systems Engineering-Loughborough University;
- Systems Engineering-University of Bristol;
- Nuclear Engineering-University of Manchester; and
- Large Scale Complex IT Systems-University of York (to
be announced).
28. Future research will require appropriately trained
multidisciplinary researchers. The Doctoral Training Centre (DTC)
mechanism offers a new and exciting approach to postgraduate training.
Each centre, focused around a small number of research themes,
has strong industrial engagement, both in the management and support
for research. EPSRC plans to increase the use of such centres
through support for approximately 25 further centres in both our
strategic research areas and across the portfolio. Current DTCs
relevant to engineering include:
- Bio-nanotechnology, medical imaging and bioinformatics-University
of Oxford;
- Medical devices and related materials-University of
Strathclyde;
- Neuroinformatics-University of Edinburgh;
- Systems Biology (co-funded with BBSRC)-Universities
of Manchester, Oxford and Warwick; and
- Proteomic Technologies (co-funded with BBSRC)-University
of Glasgow.
29. EPSRC provides funding for Masters training and currently
supports just under 170 Masters Courses relevant to engineering.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF ENGINEERING
TO R&D AND
THE CONTRIBUTION
OF R&D TO
ENGINEERING
30. Research Council expenditure on research and development
that relies on engineering or contributes to it is substantial.
EPSRC will continue to fund world class research in fundamental
engineering; expenditure in 2007-08 will be £342 million.
This level of expenditure is through 3470 individual grants across
academic institutions. On current plans and dependent on the quality
of proposals received by EPSRC, this expenditure will rise during
the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) period to
£378 million in 2010-11.
31. Considerable areas of research not principally directed
at engineering rely on engineering input or support, for example
engineering has increasingly allowed the study of biological,
chemical and physical phenomena at much smaller scales, remotely
and in extreme or previously inaccessible environments. Recognising
the significance of technology development, NERC has selected
"Technologies" as one of the seven themes of its new
Strategy for 2007-12: "Next Generation Science for Planet
Earth".[155]
32. Across the Research Councils we are providing researchers
with the flexibility to take the lead in engineering and related
research through major grants to support programmes of longer
duration, typically 5-10 years. We are aiming to enable the academic
base to take advantage of a changing research landscape where
traditional boundaries no longer exist. EPSRC currently supports
over 122 grants above £2 million; examples of such larger
awards have been included in previous sections.
33. The Challenging Engineering activity was developed
to encourage young researchers to be creative and develop transformative
research projects. EPSRC currently offers two strands of support:
- Challenging Engineering funding provide individuals
with large grants of up to £1 million to develop their research
groups. To date 20 awards have been made.
- Exploring the Future workshops aim to enhance the creative
skills of engineers and support their career development.
34. It is important to ensure that researchers of all
disciplines have access to world leading facilities, which would
not be available without engineering and engineers. Research Councils,
particularly STFC, provide researchers with access to international
facilities and directly fund UK facilities where critical mass
and centralisation offer more economic and appropriate provision
than numerous localised facilities. These can be major facilities
such as HECToR, a high-end computing resource, and the Diamond
synchrotron, or smaller scale facilities such as the Engineering
Instrument Pool managed by STFC on behalf of EPSRC which consists
of over 60 portable research instruments. Individual Councils
also have in-house facilities through their institutes and fund
major capital equipment on grants; through the current portfolio
of engineering grants EPSRC has invested over £60 M in capital
equipment.
35. Recognising that engineering underpins many of the
technologies that will enable better provision, delivery and monitoring
of healthcare in the future, EPSRC in partnership with other Councils
and stakeholders has strengthened its healthcare strategy. The
portfolio of research supported includes those which are researcher-led
along side major activities in key areas developed in collaboration
with stakeholders. Key activities include:
- A strategic partnership between EPSRC and Cancer Research
UK to promote the application of imaging science to cancer research.
This partnership will draw upon these strengths to stimulate the
research base with challenges associated with clinical need and
to ensure technology pull-through to clinical practice.
- EPSRC and MRC are working closely with the National
Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to align engineering and
physical science research with clinical need.
36. BBSRC established a £3-4 million Tools and Resources
(T&R) Development Fund to support small or short-duration,
pump priming research projects and/or to bring together communities
for collaborative purposes: £3.15 million has been awarded
to 36 projects. In addition, BBSRC is running a Technology Development
Research Initiative to which it allocated £7 million in 2006-07
and £6 million in 2007-08; EPSRC has allocated an additional
£3 million.
37. Engineering has a vital role to play in research
efforts to better understand climate change and inform adaptation
and mitigation measures, for example:
- STFC and NERC are responsible for the UK Government's
funding of the European Space Agency, ensuring UK participation
in satellite programmes including a number dedicated to Earth
Observation.
- NERC and the Department for Innovation, Universities
and Skills last year jointly established the Centre for Earth
Observation Instrumentation,[156]
which will strengthen the UK's capability in this area.
- The cross-Council Tyndall Centre for Climate Change
Research has conducted considerable research into engineering
issues related to climate change management and mitigation.[157],
[158]
THE ROLE
OF INDUSTRY,
UNIVERSITIES, PROFESSIONAL
BODIES, GOVERNMENT,
UNIONS AND
OTHERS IN
PROMOTING ENGINEERING
SKILLS AND
THE FORMATION
AND DEVELOPMENT
OF CAREERS
IN ENGINEERING
38. The Research Councils partner with many other stakeholder
organisations in order to promote engineering skills to the public
and young people in particular.
- EPSRC and Yorkshire Forward commissioned an experiment
to understand the impact of enhancement and enrichment activities
related to engineering on young people in the Yorkshire and Humber
region (Engineering a Better World).[159]
- The NOISE[160]
campaign targets 11-19 year olds, and uses a range of early career
researcher role models to promote STEM skills and careers. This
campaign is informally linked with the Science Council's Careers
from Science project, and 15-24 role models are involved in
engineering related research careers.
- EPSRC is currently in discussions with the Engineering
Technology Board as to how we can work effectively with them and
others on the upcoming National Engineering Skills Campaign.
- EPSRC, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the IET and
ERA Foundation fund "Engineering Explained"[161]
which is a professional programme of activities and shows that
take engineering into schools (run by Wendy Sadler alongside Science
Made Simple).
39. The majority of EPSRC's work in the promotion of
engineering and engineering skills is delivered via the EPSRC
researcher base, using public engagement grant funding from EPSRC.
These activities cover a wide range of engineering subject matter,
delivery methods and audiences. EPSRC currently funds four high
profile champions (Senior Media Fellows)[162]
who work proactively with the media to promote engineering related
research.
40. EPSRC has also been active in encouraging the increase
in research capacity and research leadership through the funding
of research chairs-either to bring in a star recruit from outside
the current UK academic base or funded in partnership with a third
party such as the learned societies or industry. Examples of such
chairs span the breadth of engineering including chairs in decommissioning
engineering, healthcare engineering and casting technology.
41. The Research Councils will increase the attractiveness
of research careers by promoting improved career development and
management of research staff in research organisations and fostering
a culture of continuous enhancement. During 2008 the strategy
for research staff will be given greater emphasis, assisted by
a revised Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers[163]
and extending the role of the RCUK-funded UK GRAD skills Programme
to include research-only staff.[164]
42. RCUK works to promote engineering skills to teachers
via a programme of Continuing Professional Development courses
delivered by and through the Science Learning Centres. The pilot
programme of courses included i) climate change-alternative technologies,
ii) nanotechnology and iii) new materials. Topics have yet to
be agreed for the Comprehensive Spending Review period, but will
include engineering related research areas.
43. EPSRC supports a number of vacation bursaries with
the aim for undergraduate students to gain experience of a research
environment. EPSRC award the top 15 Universities (based on EPSRC
income), £20,000 to support up to 10 students. The bursaries
are intended to be used in shortage areas such as engineering
and increase the number of people choosing a research career path
from a variety of backgrounds.
44. In 2007-08 EPSRC is making payments of £11 M
to universities for training and development opportunities to
enhance the skills of researchers. In 2007, EPSRC made payments
of £1.4 million to 28 organisations to support training and/or
course development in the area of entrepreneurship with the aim
of increasing business awareness and encouraging innovative approaches
to the exploitation of research.
151
http://ire2004.org.uk/ Back
152
http://www.raeng.org.uk/events/pdf/Public_Attitude_Perceptions_Engineering_Engineers_2007.pdf Back
153
www.energytechnologies.co.uk Back
154
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/EngineeringDoctorates/ReviewOfTheEPSRCEngDCentres.htm Back
155
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/publications/strategicplan/nextgeneration.asp Back
156
http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/areas/earthobs/programmes/eoinstrument/ Back
157
http://www.tyndall.ac.uk/events/past_events/cmi.shtml Back
158
http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/energy/downloads/40house/40house.pdf Back
159
http://eabw.cseprojects.org/ Back
160
http://www.noisemakers.org.uk/ Back
161
http://www.engineeringexplained.co.uk/ Back
162
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PublicEngagement/ActivitiesAndFundingForResearchers/SMF Back
163
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/rescareer/rcdu/careermanagement.htm Back
164
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/redevelop.htm Back
| 
