UKRI Delivery Plan Top Trumps

For us research policy nerds, the past week has been like Christmas. Each of the constituent parts of UK Research and Innovation, as well as the all seeing eye that watches over them, have all produced their Delivery Plans.

These flesh out the - ahem -  'Strategic Prospectus', which was published last year. How long are these valid for? Well, that's moot, but at least until the next Comprehensive Spending Review (so 2019-20) after which it will 'update our 'near-term actions' to reflect the financial years covered in the SR.'

Grants Factory: Alternative Funding for your Work

13 June 2017, 2-4pm

Venue TBC

Innovation and enterprise funding routes can be a significant and rewarding - but often overlooked - alternative to traditional funding sources. This session, delivered by Kent Innovation and Enterprise (KIE), will increase your understanding of the innovation and enterprise landscape, including Innovate UK and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), and how they can help you access this funding.

The session also includes presentations from Prof Colin Robinson, Professor in Biotechnology/Head of School at Biosciences, and from Dr Jesse O’Hanley, Reader in Environmental Systems Management at Kent Business School, who will share their experiences of securing alternative funding and working with industry partners.

As ever it’s free and open to all, and tea and coffee will be available. However, do let me know if you intend to come so that I can make sure both room and catering are appropriate.

'Bird of a Feather' to Join UKRI

In an announcement that has shocked the sector, Birds of Feather star and national treasure Pauline Quirke has been appointed as Programme Director of UKRI, the umbrella organisation for bringing together the Research Councils, organising the REF and distributing Brexit sweeteners.

'Whilst I very much admire her acting talents, her appointment to this pivotal role has taken me by surprise,' said Professor Gymslip Plimsole, Vice-Chancellor of Fundermental Towers University. 'I just hope that she gets on okay with Mr Gimlet.' 

Any similarity to Anne Dixon, Chief Operating Officer of Innovate UK, is, of course, entirely coincidental.

Quirke

Dixon

Innovate UK Promises to Simplify Siege Engines

Trebuchet Vouchers 'confusing', admits McKernan

The Chief Executive of the UK's premier producer of catapults, Innovate UK, has promised to simplify the range of medieval siege engine-style funding schemes it creates.

'I appreciate that our range of siege engine schemes may be confusing to many academics and companies who just want a bit of funding to start a collaboration,' admitted Ruth McKernan. 'However, what they don't realise is that, in a crowded funding scheme marketplace, you've really got to stand out from the rest of the competition. And ideally brutally bombard them into submission.'