Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcomes the outcome of the review of Science and
Technology Facilities Council (STFC) started by Lord Drayson in December 2009. The
aim of the review was to address the tensions faced by having international science
projects, large scientific facilities and UK grant giving roles within a single
council, STFC.
The review asked RCUK to develop a future funding model for large scale facilities
and this has now been completed.
Professor Douglas Kell, RCUK Research and Development Group Champion commented:
“These large facilities serve the needs of a wide range of researchers operating
across a number of different fields. The new funding model will provide greater
clarity and certainty in the funding of these facilities whilst retaining the scope
for making sensible changes in the light of actual demand.”
To ensure a more effective funding process is achieved, the RCUK future funding
model for operating large scale facilities will:
- ensure that funders, mainly Research Councils, clearly understand the operating
costs and the drivers of costs at all stages for each facility
- enable funders to agree the desirable levels of long-term support, but also
to regular reviews to allow for changes to the funding agreement if needed
- enable funders to commit to costs before operational demand is fully established,
but negotiate extra access at cost if the level of demand changes
- be flexible and allow appropriate access to facilities by international
researchers and UK researchers who do not currently hold Research Council grants.
The Research Councils will now work closely on the implementation of these proposals.
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Further information
Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592
Notes for editors
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 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).