Research Councils UK Energy Programme and CCS
Jacqui Williams
UKCCSC network
Our vision for this network is that it will enable:Coordination within the research community and sharing of results in this fast growing fieldEngagement with stakeholders and pilot projectsInternational engagementDevelopment of researchers
Encourage involvement from researchers new to the areaEasy “route in” and information source.
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EPSRC From Strategy to Delivery
V0.5
Indicative Expenditure by Theme (£M)
Theme 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15
National Capability 27 412 406 400
Manufacturing the Future 78 79 82 83
Energy (excl ETI) 109 109 109 112
Digital Economy 26 26 27 27
Healthcare Technologies 76 76 76 76
Other Themes 17 17 17 17
Our three Strategic Plan goals
Delivering Impact
Embedding impact throughout our portfolio by creating an environment in which it arises naturally, in whatever form, from the knowledge base
Shaping Capability
Ensuring we have the right people, with the right resource, in the right places to deliver the highest quality long-term research in areas where the UK leads internationally and where there is current or future national need
Developing Leaders
Nurturing the visionary leaders who set research agendas and inspirational team leaders who act as role models
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Long term science and engineering research is at the h eart of discovery and innovation.
Drive culture change in universities:
Embed resources for impact within our research grants rath er than having distinct add-on schemes;
Pathways to impact at all stages of the research prog ramme
Encourage alignment key partners’ strategies to a na tional agenda
Enhance accessibility of data and knowledge about o ur research and its outcomes to accelerate its exploitation
Enhance research mobility.
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Delivering Impact
Our ambition is to use our comprehensive view of the EP S portfolio to bring greater coherence to the research base, reflectin g national needs and maximising limited resources
Co-define the landscape of research and training we wish to supportfocused on
strategic UK needs
the areas where the UK is an acknowledged leader
excellent centres of critical mass
Reduction of the breadth of our portfolio in favour of areas of strength
More coordination and collaboration between univers ities rather than competition.
Enable the researchers we sponsor to raise their am bitions and maximise their creativity.
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Shaping capability
We will support and promote leadership role models who can inspire others and can integrate the efforts of their peers to deliver greater impact from our investment.
Increase support to individuals not projects ;
Identify and invest preferentially in current leade rs
Develop by broadening their experience our near-fut ure leaders
Identify and support early career researchers with the greatest potential (stage-gating approach)
Tailor our support for individuals with leadership potential across all career stages
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Developing Leaders
From Funder to Sponsor
Applies across all three Strategic Plan goals
Cultural and behavioural challenges on both sides
Needs a clear statement of expectations and require ments
More active and effective relationships to develop shared agendas and capture and promote outputs and benefits
Constrained financial environment; more active lead ership of national agenda in the context of wider societal benefit
Recognition that financial support is a national re source which has responsibilities as well as rights
Continued funding dependent upon demonstrable benef its from previous support
Implementing the Delivery Plan 2011-15
Published today on our website
Sets out priorities for the next four years
Gives an overview, including the revised organisation structure and budgets for the first 6 months
Our approach to transformative change, including further detail on our move from funder to sponsor
Strategic goals
The plan will be updated over the delivery plan period and further theme plans included around June
International Review of Energy
• Benchmark the strength of UK research activity compared to world competitors and highlight any gaps or missed opportunities
• Provide a broad perspective on the UK’s research activity and aid with future planning
• Visiting international panel of 16 experts – October 2010 – led by Carsten Westergaard, Vestas. Rosemary Falcon (Witwatersrand) and Dongxiao Zhang (Peking) for CCS and coal
• Town meeting held to present results 18 January 2011
• Action plan in response being developed
High level findings
Across almost all areas the panel found interesting, leading-edge and world class research. The excellent international reputation of UK research is deservedly earned.
Good value is being delivered but in terms of impact on economicbenefit, industry development and quality of life much more can be done.
Weaknesses arise because of a lack of a sustained long term coherent energy research programme across the different funding bodies and the lack of clear mechanisms for moving from researchto early demonstration, application and deployment.
High level recommendationsA fully integrated “roadmap” for UK research targets
A single, well defined, cross-Councils energy research budget to provide a common vision and strategy to the research community and to avoid conflicting priorities
More transparent allocation process for strategic programmes to ensure better/optimal research community involvement, thereby secure deliverables
There needs to be increased efforts to identify opportunities, provide funding and then promote, recognize and reward interdisciplinary R&D.
More attention and resources directed to career paths both in industry and academia for multidisciplinary work
R&D on demand reduction needs a higher profile in the R&D portfolio, and may warrant a dedicated programme.
CCS and coal research specifics
UK has produced some excellent examples of world class CCS and coal research and training – on interdisciplinary and inter-organisational basis.
Needs a long term vision on roadmap basis including a route to carrying these activities into large scale pilots.
Little if any broad-scale intercontinental understanding of coals – qualities, performances and emission characteristics of lower grade coals
Coal research should include programmes that cover alternative coal-based energy technologies, such as fluidised bed combustion and gasification.
See www.rcuk.ac.uk for further information
CCS: Activities 2011/12Projects
Likely to be one call in CCS from EPSRC – natural gas CCS or engineering challenges of storage. NERC developing plans for future funding of CCS.
Community coordinationContinue to work with the research community, DECC, TSB, ETI and NERC to help create a coordinated community. EERA roleFENCO net
OtherEPSRC Review of Centres for Doctoral TrainingESRC seeking input on their strategyETI support and funding