SAgE RC Funding Panel Info Day, June 2014 NERC strategy and the funding process Peter Clarke Civil Engineering and Geosciences

SAgE RC Funding Panel Info Day, June 2014 Points to consider How is NERC scientific research strategy formed? – SPAG and SISB How does NERC manage strategic research? – ‘Highlight Topics’ and ‘Strategic Programmes’ How does NERC strategy affect Standard Grants? – it doesn’t!

SAgE RC Funding Panel Info Day, June 2014 NERC’s overall strategy Launched November 2013 – benefiting from natural resources – resilience to environmental hazards – managing environmental change – “discovery science” publications/strategycorporate/strategy/

SAgE RC Funding Panel Info Day, June 2014 SPAG and SISB Strategic Programmes Advisory Group – formed May 2014 – 12 members; mix of university / NERC centre / stakeholder – collates and prioritises ideas from community for: Highlight Topics (up to £4M over 5 years) Strategic Programme Areas (£5M — £20M) Science and Innovation Strategy Board – NERC Council’s main source of science strategy/advice – 18 members, all from academic community

SAgE RC Funding Panel Info Day, June 2014 Proposing strategic research First call for SPAG consideration 31 st August 2014 – SPAG will prioritise and work successful ideas into strategic programmes recommended to SISB/Council – calls for proposals within programme then issued – lead time ~12 months Thereafter two calls per year expected

SAgE RC Funding Panel Info Day, June 2014 Discovery Science Independent Research Fellowships Standard Grants, £65k — £1.2M – New Investigators subdivision Large Grants, £1.2M — £3.7M – outline proposals March, full proposals November Urgency Grants, up to £65k, up to 12 months – unexpected & short-lived research opportunities

SAgE RC Funding Panel Info Day, June 2014 Old proposal assessment procedure Submit proposal PRC reviews Filter (secretariat) Expert reviews PI response ~50% Panel ranking ~30% ~20% Introducers / readers

SAgE RC Funding Panel Info Day, June 2014 New proposal assessment procedure Submit proposal Expert reviews Filter (panel) PI response >80%15-20% Panel ranking ~60% ~20% Introducers / readers