EPSRC Prepares for the Spending Review 2010

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, EPSRC, has announced that it is 'developing plans based on different funding scenarios' to put forward into the Spending Review.

This follows on from the publication of its Strategic Plan earlier this year.

In the Plan EPSRC outline four somewhat banal priorities:

• Shaping research capability to ensure we have critical mass in areas of strategic importance for the UK.
• Developing leaders by providing the best possible training and support to those with greatest potential.
• Delivering impact for society and the economy by creating the environment for excellent long-term research to provide maximum benefit to the UK.
• Solving global challenges through working in partnership with other funders, business and government.

All worthy, but not exactly inspiring. Not visionary. But perhaps we don't want vision in these austere times. There'll be no putting of men on the moon and bringing them safely back by the end of the decade, that's for sure.
Anyway, EPSRC finish by saying that they will 'continue to seek advice and feedback' - no yawning at the back - 'from the research and business communities during the development of our plans. During July and August we will be holding a series of meetings with university Pro-Vice Chancellors, strategic business partners, learned societies and professional institutes, and government.'
And if that's not enough, 'EPSRC Council will oversee the development of the plans, with significant input from our Technical Opportunities Panel, User Panel and Societal Issues Panel.'
The results of the Spending Review will be announced by Government on 20 October after which individual Research Council allocations will be determined. EPSRC’s Delivery Plan for 2011-14 is expected to be published by early 2011.

RCUK: Strategy Fatigue?

RCUK have launched their new 'Framework', which emphasises the unity of their vision (building on their 'Excellence with Impact' document, their Delivery Plan and the various Council Strategic Plans). The three areas the Framework is built around are:

• Productive Economy
• Healthy Society
• Sustainable World

I don't know about you, but I am feeling a certain 'strategy fatigue'. I appreciate that we need an indication of what the funders are thinking, of where their future priorities lie, but having read through the ESRC's Delivery Plan and Strategic Plan, together with all of the above RCUK publications, I get a sense of a little too much time and effort going into overarching objectives, and not enough into finding a way of just funding the best projects without prejudice.

As to the logo, is it just me or does it remind you of a biohazard too?