2015 Press Releases

The Research Councils have awarded more than 60 PhD students policy internships that will give them valuable insights into the policy-making process and how research can contribute to it.

The Research Councils today announce that we have become members of the Jisc UK ORCID Consortium and our grants system will be ready to start capturing ORCID identifiers (ORCID iDs) in early 2016.

Eight in 10 (82 percent) researchers carried out at least one form of public engagement in the past year, according to a new study commissioned by a consortium of 15 UK research funders, including the Research Councils.

The Research Councils welcome the Government’s recognition of the value of investment in research in today’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

Over a period of three years, beginning in January 2016, more than 1,300 people involved in peer review from all seven Research Councils will be given access to high quality training designed and developed by the Research Councils.

An independent review of the UK Research Councils, led by Sir Paul Nurse, is published today. The report, ‘Ensuring a Successful Research Endeavour’, reviews why and how the UK should undertake research.

The value of investment in UK-India research from the UK Research Councils, the Government of India, and third parties now exceeds £200 million, following a joint £72 million boost to the portfolio during 2015.

The UK Research Councils have announced a number of research programmes in partnership with Chinese funders to tackle major global challenges, as part of the State visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the UK this week.

Eleven partnership awards for PhD students in the UK and South Africa, funded by the UK Research Councils and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) under the Newton Fund, have today been announced by the Science Ministers of the two countries.

Announced by Universities and Science Minister, Jo Johnson, The Urban Living Partnership will harness the broad spectrum of UK research and innovation expertise to help cities realise their aspiration of healthy, prosperous and sustainable living.

The University of Leicester has been crowned the Overall Winner 2015 and winner of the Contribution to Business category at the inaugural Impact Awards 2015 for their work in developing a commercial consultancy and industry research from their 3D laser vibrometry facility. Other category winners were: Public Health England (Contribution to Society) and Lancaster University with the University of Liverpool and Inventya Ltd (Outstanding KEC Initiative). 

RCUK is delighted to announce the successful awards for its Public Engagement with Research Catalyst Seed Fund (CSF).This funding will help to catalyse change by ensuring that engaging the public becomes an integral part of the research process. 

The UK academic and business community have made recommendations for the Research Councils’ science requirements for the Diamond Light Source, ISIS and the Central Laser Facility that are managed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

The winners of the Impact Awards for knowledge exchange and commercialisation professionals, run by Research Councils UK and PraxisUnico, will be announced at a ceremony in Central Hall, Westminster on 15th September 2015.

The 2015 UK Young Scientist of the Year will today enjoy an unforgettable personal tour of the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory, one of the best locations for astronomical observations in the world - a prize organised by RCUK.

Research Councils UK has today set out the arrangements for monitoring compliance with its Open Access Policy during 2014-15. The reporting also asks institutions in receipt of the RCUK Block Grant to support open access to set out how it has been used.

Research Councils UK has today set out the arrangements for monitoring compliance with its Open Access Policy during 2014-15. The reporting also asks institutions in receipt of the RCUK Block Grant to support open access to set out how it has been used.

Research Councils UK, on behalf of the UK Open Research Data Forum, has today published a draft Concordat on Open Research Data, which sets out expectations of good practice in publishing research data openly.