Research impact - a user perspective Prof Alison Hodge MBE Aston University EAS 21 st July 2011

Prof Alison Hodge MBE BSc PhD CPhys FInstP CEng FIET QinetiQ (until October 2010) University Partnerships Director 13 universities plus EPSRC Industrial adviser to universities: Aston, Surrey, Bristol / Bath, UCL, Imperial, Southampton, Strathclyde, Kings London, South East Physics Network Chairman of CBI ICARG (Inter-Company Academic Relations Group) Chairman of EPSRC User Panel Hefce REF Strategic Advisory Group Member Member of Council of Reading University Member of Council of IOP and IET REF 2014 Sub-panel B13: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials IOP Institute of Physics

Prof Alison Hodge MBE BSc PhD CPhys FInstP CEng FIET QinetiQ (and predecessors) Research Scientist  Head of Departments Budgets of multi £10Ms 250 staff in R&D teams Research to in-service operation Civil service to plc transition Project management, costing and pricing Commercial contract winning and negotiation National / international collaborations New business spin-out Patenting and prosecution Approx 70 publications / reports / patent Electronic materials and devices, optics and lasers, radar, infra-red, microstructures, microsystems BSc, PhD physics, Chartered Engineer, EurIng Post-doc research in Reading and France University of Reading Royal Signals and Radar Establishment, DRA / DERA - Malvern

Mechanisms for gaining benefits from academia Joint working - part funded, long duration, ideally with overlap ICASE and CASE KTPs EngDs Aston Voucher scheme Placements (UG, PG, staff) Secondments / exchanges (staff) Building awareness and alignment Participation in advisory boards Visiting appointments Seminars / lectures Conferences, trade shows, government / 3 rd party events

Generic challenges facing companies – with market sector dependence Financial and cash flow, short term – ie months! Regulatory changes – eg corporate social responsibility, ethics Political / governmental Green agenda - energy, power, waste, recycling Limited natural resources, natural disasters New technology (IT dominance) Risks to infrastructure and supply chain Global markets, emerging nations Complexity / connectivity Data / information security New business models Service provision 24 hour / 7 day operation Demographics, skills shortages

Examples of academic value Knowledgeable people, different expertise, who learn and understand Measurement / analysis - university equipment and facilities Modelling and simulation – academic tools and techniques Samples and materials generated by university Designs and prototypes Advice, recommendations Reviews and data / information analysis Independent verification Patents and inventions Company spin-outs Reading - microscope Exeter - Geoff Nash

The gaps? It’s novel = not repeatable = no standards yet = untried, untested Flexible = out of control = difficult to operate It’s been published in.... Where? Where do we buy....? It’s not available yet How about..... ? We don’t do that...or that...or that QinetiQ radar system EBRI research lab prototype

REF Research impact 20% Statement on impact overall context, not repetition of the cases integrated approach used, local / university / global plans for future research Consider whole department, not just those submitting case studies

REF Environment 15% Enabling processes for research, coherence, evolution People development and training, succession research students post docs ALL staff - academic, technicians, support Visitors Prizes and awards, recognition (all career stages) Infrastructure – facilities, resources, local (pan university) and accessible more widely Networks, collaboration, etc in academia Company, business, industry, 3 rd sector links established Government, national / international influencing Funding income – necessary but not sufficient!

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