Memorandum submitted by Institute of Grassland
and Environmental Research
Thank you for the invitation to help frame the
inquiry into the science capability of Defra and its agencies.
This submission is from the Institute of Grassland
and Environmental Research (IGER) which receives a significant
proportion of its research income from Defra through both commissions
and competitive awards and will continue to depend on Defra for
more than 25% of its income in the coming years.
We consider that the scope of the Inquiry should
include consideration of:
— the extent to which Defra has the appropriate
"in house" scientific expertise to define, develop and
implement policy objectives in the wider context of the needs
of UK land use; and to assess scientific project proposals against
those objectives;
— the balance between competitively funded
research. commissioned research and industry supported "LINK"
research; and whether this is appropriate in terms of maintaining
overall science quality; the capability and capacity of the UK
science base in the medium to long term; investment in longer-term
strategic research; and the promotion of economic and social impacts
from research outcomes;
— how the Defra Assessment of Strategic
Knowledge Capabilities and BBSRC/HEFCE Study of Land-Based Facilities
and Resources will inform future policy;
— the extent of the integration needed
between Defra, research councils, levy boards and other industry
partners and the extent to which current mechanisms promote this;
— the extent to which Defra should expect
research providers to conduct strategic management of consortium
projects and its willingness to build this requirement into funding
awards; and
— the long-term relationship of Defra with
its main contractors and sub contractors including research sustainability
risk management and the need to maintain physical infrastructure
and staff capacity against an agreed science strategy.
The Institute looks forward to the opportunity
to submit evidence to the inquiry.
March 2008
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