1. Overview of the Newton Fund
Melissa Lennartz-Walker
Newton Fund Programme Manager
4 June 2019
So I will cover a board introduction to the Newton Fund, as this is where the budget arises from for this workshop and call, but also to put in in context I will also give a brief introduction of the UK MRC itself, as it is dynamic landscape.

2. Economic and Social Research Arts and Humanities Research
Medical Research
Engineering and Physical Sciences
Natural Environment research
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
Innovation Agency
Since 2018, sits under the umbrella of UKRI, A new body created to be more than the sum of its parts and to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. working individually and collectively. We work with our many partners to benefit everyone through knowledge, talent and ideas.
Research Facilities
Higher Education Knowledge Exchange

3. The changing landscape: MRC is now part of UKRI
UKRI established 1st April 2018
MRC remains a mission orientated funder and leads on scientific discovery to improve human health
Councils maintain their identity, but have more opportunities to support cross- disciplinary research
New landscape plays to MRC strengths in partnerships – 25% of all MRC funding is in this form
UK Government Industrial Strategy
UK £7bn National Productivity Investment Fund 2017/ /22
Increase UK’s investment in R&D to 2.4% of GDP by 2027
Operating across the whole of the UK with a combined budget of more than £7 billion, UKRI brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England.
We are an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, both to government and internationally, we are supported and challenged by an independent chair and board. We are principally funded through the Science Budget by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
But each RC, including MRC maintains very much its inependnacce.
Pat of the gouvernment strategy to maximsie it ambition to increase its R%D funding to 2.4% of the GDP by 2027.

4. MRC Background Established in 1913
Our mission is to improve human health through world-class medical research
Encourage and support high-quality research
Produce skilled researchers.
Advance and disseminate knowledge and technology
Promote dialogue with the public about medical research.
The MRC (and all other Research Councils) operate under the ‘Haldane Principle’ that the Councils should make scientific decisions independently of government (since 1918)
We support research through extramural and intramural programmes (including 2 units in Africa)
This is our mission as reproduced from our Royal Charter. In the third point, “and worldwide” is added to reflect that the MRC leads on global health research.
MRC mission, enshrined in a Royal Charter, is to support high quality research to improve quality of life. Key message - This means we cover all research that maintains or improves human health and is not focused on any specific disease or research area.

5. MRC Strategic Plan 2014-2019 Strategic aim 1
Picking research that delivers: Setting research priorities which are most likely to deliver improved health outcomes.
Strategic aim 2
Research to people: Bringing the benefits of excellent research to all sections of society.
Strategic aim 3
Going global: Accelerating progress in international health research.
Strategic aim 4
Supporting scientists: Sustaining a robust and flourishing environment for world-class medical research.
International partnerships and shaping the agenda: To provide international leadership in partnerships which enhance the competitiveness of the UK knowledge and health base and to influence the international research agenda.
Global health: to support global health research that addresses the inequalities in health which arise particularly in developing countries. 2 Units in Africa: The Gambia and Uganda

6. 2016/17 Global Health Spend by Health Area
MRC now spends approx. £100m per year on global health research
Global infections remains a priority; also diversifying e.g.: mental health, cancer, maternal, child and adolescent health
Multidisciplinary work is key: e.g. for topics such as urbanisation, environmental threats
MRC has a broad global health remit: we fund fundamental science through to health systems research
New programmes likely to feature a major focus on research capacities and skills in developing countries
2016/17 Global Health Spend by Health Area
Key messages:
MRC now spends approx. £100m per year on global health research
Global infections remains a priority; but we are also diversifying e.g.: mental health, cancer, maternal, child and adolescent health
MRC has a broad global health remit - all MRC boards and panels are open to global health focused applications.
The Newton fund id the second largest international investment of the MRC
Background
To be classed as global health research a project must focus on health challenges in low and middle income countries (LMICs).
£50 million through MRC’s core ODA activities – continuing to support long standing investment in basic research as well as applied research initiatives. Often invested in partnership with DFID, the Wellcome trust, DHSC.
£35 million through Global Challenges Research Fund – investing in multidisciplinary research to address global challenges
£15 million through Newton fund – strengthening international partnerships to address the priorities of LMICs
All MRC boards and panels are open to global health focused applications. We have promoted diversification of our portfolio by running strategic initiatives for some topics such as global mental health research and global cancer research. The aim is to stimulate demand for research funding on these topics.
It is important to emphasise that researchers do not need to wait for additional strategic calls; the aim is for these topics to become business as usual at the Boards.
Multidisciplinary work is key: e.g. for topics such as urbanisation, environmental threats
MRC’s global health initiatives (e.g. Adolescent Health programme, and the Health Systems Research Initiative) encourage a multidisciplinary approach to global health research
The introduction of GCRF money has allowed for more cross-cutting initiatives bringing together diverse disciplines to address common challenges
MRC has a broad global health remit: we fund fundamental science through to health systems research
MRC has a flexible and open approach to global health research and we welcome applications across a wide range of research types and health issues.
Our global health funding extends later into the research pipeline than it does for UK research; due to global need to for major global health research funders such as MRC to address the global implementation gap as well as developing novel interventions.
New programmes likely to feature a major focus on research capacities and skills in developing countries
We will continue to encourage capacity building as a necessary core component of any MRC funded research grant, in the UK and in LMICs.
We are engaging with partner organisations based in LMICs as well as partner funders across the UK (Wellcome, DFID, DHSC, AMS) to ensure that approaches to capacity building are sustainable and relevant to the local research context.
A important part of our gloval health portfolio is funded throught the Newron Fund

7. Newton Fund Launched in April 2014 for 5 years and £75M per year
15 partner countries – to match UK Funding
Delivery partners bid for resource.
MRC secured £45m in first phase of Newton, and a further £45m for phase 2 ( ), totalling £90m+ over 6 years.
£735m fund over 7 years (from ) to support research and innovation partnerships between the UK and the 17 Newton Fund countries
Working in partnership - All Newton Fund investment is matched by partner countries

8. Newton Fund Countries Kazakhstan Turkey China Egypt Thailand Vietnam
MRC partners Newton 1 & 2
New MRC partners Newton 2
Kazakhstan
Turkey
China
Egypt
Thailand
Vietnam
Mexico
Philippines
India
Colombia
Kenya
Thus the MRC has the most important Newton budget within UKRI, and the most diverse portfolio worldwide with 12/15 newton Countries. But it often worked hand in hand with other research council too, for instance the Mental health call with ESRC or Nutrition call with BBSRC.
Brazil
Malaysia
Peru
Chile
Indonesia
South Africa

9. Key principles
The Newton Fund aims to promote the economic development and social welfare working with partner countries
Working in partnership - All Newton Fund investment is matched by partner countries
Building strong, sustainable and systemic relationships by working together on bi-lateral and multi-lateral programmes
Excellence is key - Newton Fund is allocated through an open, transparent and competitive process – to fund the best people and projects ensuring continued excellence of science and innovation
Newton Fund is very much based on mutually beneficial and equitable partnerships

10. Newton Fund Requirements
All research funded must be compliant with Official Development Assistance (ODA) – i.e. must primarily benefit the Newton Fund partner country and their population
All funding activities should be carried out in partnership between UK and the Newton Fund partner country – match funding.
Funding is provided from both the UK and Newton funding partners at a level appropriate for each country
There must be a competitive and transparent award process
All of the funding must be spent within tight time constraints

11. Newton Fund - Monitoring and Evaluation
All calls are subject to reporting requirements – using relevant metrics
Shift towards higher monitoring and evaluation of Newton-funded projects
Strong case to support and jump-start future initiatives
There is currently a tend that is likely to become consolidated to increase the reporting requirements for Newton Funding , partly as this originates firm UK-guvernement ODA funds, but also as a general trend for UKRI to become more answerable for it’s investments. This is not specifically around publication records, but also using appropriate metrics that may for instance reflect the contribution to policy making, capacity building or development in a Newton Country.
So this call is Newton Funded and will obey to these principles,

12. MRC- SAMRC Collaboration
UK-South Africa Joint Initiative on Mental Health – 2018
UK-South Africa Antimicrobial Resistance Partnership Awards – 2016
MRC / South African MRC / GSK: Joint call on Non-Communicable Diseases in Africa – 2015
MRC/South African MRC: Joint call to support Tuberculosis Control Implementation Science
Strong partnership with a fruitful history of calls together - true collaboration supporting world class international research

13. Any questions? Thank you Melissa Lennartz-Walker