ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF BASIC RESEARCH:EXPERIENCES FROM THE UK
Ian Diamond26/02/08
Research Excellence with Impact
Why does Government invest in research?
• Economic reasons– Contribution to innovation, productivity and national
competitiveness
• Quality of life outcomes– Healthcare, environment, social benefits
• Culture and curiosity– The pursuit of knowledge – “because its there”
Impacts are expected but implicit
Trends in Government funded SET in real terms
Flow of funds for UK R&D
Trends in source of funds for gross domestic expenditure on R&D in UK in real
terms
Increased investment in research
Increased expectations of benefits from research
Increased obligation to demonstrate a greater impact from research
A causal relationship!
Some Examples of Impact
• Assume UK HE will be major driver of improvements in economic development and quality of life– Supply of well educated people with relevant
skills– Ensuring research, where appropriate,
impacts on business, government and voluntary sector
– Increasing ease of movements between academia and other sectors
Economic Impact AssessmentDetailed analysis of 20 Case Studies• All Research Councils • Different types of activity• Different types of outcome
A common “scientific” approach:• description• classification • explanation
Research
Training
Facilities
Case studies mapped onto an aggregation of RCs ’ grant funding
Note: Other non monetary accounting and non grant expenditure is excluded
AHRC Books &
monographs
PPARC Detectors for
medical imaging
EPSRC Polymer Research
ESRCCASE Centre
EPSRC Eng. Doc. centres
CCLRC Protein
crystallography
CCLRC Lasers in Raman
Spectroscopy
BBSRC Bio molecular
science
BBSRC Institute of
Animal Health
AHRC Surrealism
centre
ESRC AIM
programme
MRCDNA chipsPPARC
Students 1990’s
MRCDundee/ Kinases
X-CouncilForesight Challenge
X-CouncilBreast Cancer
X-CouncilGenomics
X-CouncilTyndall Centre
NERC AUV
NERC Ocean
Margins
Case studies mapped onto an aggregation of Research Councils’ Funding
Case Study Methodology
Outputs of Research Investments
• Codified knowledge– Scientific publications
– Intellectual property
• Qualifications and Skills Development
• Instrumentation, resources and methods
• Networks
Impacts of Research
• Development of human capital• Business and commercial impacts
– Knowledge transfer through collaboration– IP and other commercial activity– Clusters and inward investment
• Policy impacts• Quality of Life outcomes
– Healthcare, environment, social cohesion– National security, education, culture
AHRC Centre for Surrealism
• led to the Undercover Surrealism exhibition at London’s Haywood Gallery, which– generated economic impact
of at least £1M; – has restored the credibility
of surrealism research;– contributed to development
of the creative industries.
BBSRC Institute of Animal Health
• A reference laboratory for several animal diseases;
• has contributed include the eradication of Rinderpest,
• a net economic benefit to Africa of over $1,000 million annually
STFC Protein crystallography• Tool pioneered at STFC
Synchrotron Radiation Source to study the structure of proteins.
• One user Astex has raised over £50M investment and $1Bn in external collaborations.
• Software developed from SRS generates licensing revenue of around £1M pa.
EPSRC Polymer Science Research
• Basic research leading to exploitation of polymer technology
• Successful spinouts include: – Plastic Logic - introduced
flexible displays (shown)– CDT - recently merged with
Sumitomo in ~ $285M deal• Direct and indirect impacts
over £200M.
Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion
• Research into factors which promote/prevent exclusion, recovery and regeneration
• Contributed to Government evidence-based policy making
• Direct influence on UK Government Sure Start programme ~ £1M p.a.
MRC DNA Technology• Outcomes include the
Southern Blot method - underpinned the sequencing of the human genome
• Spin-outs include Oxford Gene Technology and Cellmark Diagnostics, one of which has a $160 million market capitalisation.
• Impacts - DNA fingerprinting has revolutionized forensics and may have saved the UK £47M pa through faster identification of serial rapists.
NERC Ocean Margins LINK programme
• To improve understanding of deep water structures, sediment movement and stability.
• Potential impacts include improved risk mitigation and site prediction in oil drilling in Atlantic margins, worth around £100M.
• Wider impacts could include the application of analytical techniques to drugs testing in sport.
PPARC Particle Physics and Astronomy PhDs
• Develop analytical skills with much broader commercial applicability.
• A typical PhD will realise a salary benefit of around £70k, compared to an equivalent first degree only.
• Around 20% achieve substantially higher salaries in the financial services industry, (e.g. £40k plus bonuses, progressing rapidly to £150k).
SOME INHERENT DIFFICULTIES OF IMPACT ASSESSMENT
(One instance of the problem of demonstrating causation in a complex system)
1. SYSTEMS AND MULTIPLIERS– linear models of innovation are being superseded by dialectical, systemic
understandings innovation– The wider societal impacts from research are influenced by external, interacting
factors (‘multipliers’) beyond the control of the research base2. TIMING– Time lags (sometimes decades) between research outputs and eventual outcomes3. PROJECT FALLACY– Connecting a major research output with any particular piece of research can often
be difficult4. PARTICULAR PROBLEMS WITH SHOWING INFLUENCE THROUGH IMPACTS
ON POLICY AND CULTURE– Research is not the only influence on policy makers!– It is often very difficult to put a value ion such outputs.
Next Steps
• Better data– Understand long term PhD career trajectories– Survey the experiences and outcomes of collaborators– Refine end of project output reporting
• Better Management Information Systems
• Deeper evaluations– Programme/portfolio evaluation to cover impacts
• Strengthen in-house capability foreconomic argument and analysis
Research Council Delivery Plans
Economic impact considerations now centre stage
• Practical steps to increase impact:– follow on funding– translational research– research collaborations– partnership and alliances
• Describe plans to partner TSB• Demonstrate current impact (baseline)• Published 11 December
Key Requirements
• Partnerships– HEIs/HEIs and HEIs/Funders– Business– Government Departments– International RCs– Charities– Public
KT Coordination
• Knowledge transfer schemes–Simplify presentation, terminology and branding–Consider user and academic perspectives
• RCUK Response to “Saraga”–Clarify IPR expectations and obligations
• Peer review implementation–Reflect economic impact considerations–Role of users in peer review
• Establish KT portal–improve access to research council schemes
Technology Strategy Board• £120M in Partnership with TSB
– Collaborative and complementary investments– All Councils, new sectors, new approaches
• Initial steps– Transition Group (strategic, managerial interface)– Build operational relationships– Joint KT Summit– Common stakeholders (e.g. UKTI, RDA/DA)
Looking forward
• Evidence and measurement– HEBCI survey – RCUK studies and surveys – International comparators (e.g. AUTM/UNICO)
• Influencing and leadership– Partnerships (e.g. TSB, KT Summit)– Cultural issues e.g. innovation– Promoting success, role models etc– Incentives and rewards (HEIF, RCUK/RDA awards)– Clarity of expectations (e.g. Saraga on IP)– “Own house in order” (e.g. KT, peer review)
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