Historic agreement will increase impact of research on worldwide scale
For the first time in history, research organisations from across the G8 have
joined forces to find solutions to some of the biggest global problems. Research
funding organisations from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, the UK and the
USA have signed an agreement which will bring together the best researchers in world
to address some of the biggest challenges of the 21st Century.
International collaboration is critical to finding solutions to the major problems
facing the world today. It adds value to the worldwide research base and helps inform
decisions about how to tackle the impact of these problems on the global economy
and society. The Multilateral Research Funding Programme will give researchers an
unprecedented opportunity to collaborate with one another across disciplines to
address major global challenges including climate change, energy, water resources,
the environment and natural disasters.
Professor Alan Thorpe, Chair of Research Councils UK (RCUK) said: “RCUK supports
excellent research which puts the UK among the top research nations in the world.
Collaboration with experts around the world means we can increase the impact of
research and bring considerable benefit to the society and economy of the UK.”
Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said: “The big challenges facing
the world require a global response. Britain’s science and research base is world
leading and this unique collaboration will help boost our impact internationally,
increasing the value of our investment in science."
The programme is scheduled to run for five years and three calls for research
proposals will be made during that time. Research topics will be defined separately
for each call and the first has just been announced. Researchers are being invited
to submit initial proposals by 7th May 2010 and the topic area has been agreed as:
“Interdisciplinary Programme on Application Software towards Exascale Computing
for Global Scale Issues.”
This first call will be supported by €10 million over a three year period and
it is hoped that between eight and ten collaborations will be funded. Researchers
interested in submitting a proposal can find more information
here.
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Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Research Councils UK
Research Councils UK is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils.
We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with
impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer
review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we
sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations,
and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled
researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable
contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To
deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the
public, business, government and the third sector.
www.rcuk.ac.uk
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).