Update from RCUK Wakeham Implementation Group

The RCUK Wakeham Implementation Group was set up in order to consider the Councils’ response to the Wakeham Report (June 2010). The economic climate has been rapidly evolving even since the report was launched and, as part of the December 2010 Research Council budget allocation announcements, there are expectations that substantial savings will be made in the areas looked at by the Wakeham Review. The group, with input from individual Councils, aims to develop a “cross the board” strategy in order to implement the recommendations.

As part of these changes it is likely that there will be changes made to the way in which the Research Councils allocate funding for the capital elements of grant applications which will affect all grant submissions that request funding for equipment as part of their application. This is as per the findings of the Wakeham Review which recommended greater sharing of research equipment and facilities. Changes are also likely to be made to the ways in which indirect costs and indexation are dealt with as part of grant applications.

Further information will be made available when the implementation plan is published in March 2011.

- ends -

Further information

Contact:
Alexandra Saxon
Head of Communications
Tel: 01793 444474

Notes to editors

1. Published by Research Councils UK and Universities UK in June 2010, the report Financial Sustainability and Efficiency in Full Economic Costing of Research in UK Higher Education Institutions, announced the outcomes of a review led by Sir William Wakeham to implement the recommendations made by the Full Economic Costing (fEC) Review (April 2009). A full copy of the report including all recommendations can be found here

2. Research Councils UK (RCUK) 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 charitable organisations. 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).