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How Research Administrators Help Make The World A
Smaller Place; From Strategy To Reality
Dr David Langley and Dr Lorna Colquhoun
A bit about me• Director of Research & Enterprise Development at University
of Bristol, 7 years • Previously, Director of Research Services at Imperial College
London – led a major restructuring of RMA around people, process and systems; 5000 sponsored research grants
• Worked at UK Medical Research Council • Supervised PhD student in her thesis on clinical RMA• Interested in professionalisation, internationalisation and
scholarship of RMA; led a national UK study of RMA• Leadership workshops for senior Faculty and RMAs• SRA Distinguished Faculty• PhD Neuropharmacology• Fulbright Scholar, post doctoral research at NIH
And a bit about me• Head of Research Development at University of Bristol,
UK• develop high level strategic direction of research at the University
and facilitate its growth and development• leadership and direction for the professional team of Research
Development Managers• support inter-disciplinary research applications and initiatives and
identify new 'high priority' funding opportunities
• Previously Divisional Manager (Medicine) at Imperial College London, Senior Programme Manager (International Research Office, Imperial College London and Scientific Programme Manager at the UK Medical Research Council
• PhD in Neuroscience, post doctoral research at Baylor College of Medicine and Tufts University School of Medicine.
A University with a rich heritage and exciting future
Academic roots began in Bristol in 1876
9 Nobel Laureates
High number of Fellows of the Royal Society, and other learned Societies and Academies
Research intensive university in South West of England
Six faculties:• Arts• Engineering• Science• Medical and Veterinary Sciences• Medicine and Dentistry• Social Sciences and Law
20,000 full-time students• 3,600 international students from 120
countries
Alleviating poverty Population Urbanisation
Water demandClimate ChangeCounter-terrorism Energy demand
Food security
BiodiversityInfectious diseases
Non-infectious diseases
Ageing population
Global challenges in 21st Century(Sir John Beddington)
Increasing population and urbanisation by 2030
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1950
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2050
Popu
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Oceania
Northern America
Latin America
Europe
Asia
Africa
Source: United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision (medium scenario)
0
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2000
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1950
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2010
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2050
Po
pu
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Urban population
Rural population
Urban and rural populations of the world 1950 - 2050
World population by region
Source: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: 2008 (revision)
Increased demand 50% by 2030 (IEA)
Energy
Water Increased demand
30% by 2030
(IFPRI)
FoodIncreased demand
50% by 2030
(FAO)
Climate Change
1. Increasing population
2. Increasing levels of urbanisation
3. The rightful goal to alleviate poverty
4. Climate Change
The Perfect Storm?
Need:
50% more production on less land, with less water, using less energy, fertiliser and pesticide …
…by 2030
… whilst not increasing GHG emissions
The Challenge…
What does this mean ?
• Research and its funding is increasingly focusing on big questions and challenges that affect society and the planet – to help identify solutions
• Best fundamental research is driven by curiosity but we have to think what this means to the public at large, funders and to Govts
• Single research groups, single institutions, or even single nations, do not have sufficient critical mass, expertise or resources to address these major societal questions
Collaboration
• Escalating costs of doing research including need for expensive cutting edge equipment and facilities
• Funding agencies see collaboration as an efficient use of resources – equipment sharing, large international facilities etc
• But it isn't easy and adds an extra dimension of complexity and management
• Even more so when we’re dealing with multiple nations in an international project and national funding calls, requirements and governance
International research collaboration on the rise
• 35% of articles are internationally collaborative, up from 25% 15 years ago, and are more highly cited
• Collaboration enhances the quality of research, improves the efficiency, impact and is increasingly necessary as the scale of both research challenges and budgets grow
• Collaboration is a necessary response to 21st century operating conditions
International collaboration rates correlate strongly with publication impact
International scientific collaboration is generally acknowledged as a positive force driving national impact and prestige
Domestic articles (‘1’) have no collaboration partners have around 3 times fewer citations per article than those with four collaborating countries (‘5’)
Source: Scopus
Number of collaborating countries (where 1 = domestic)1 2 3 4 51
Fie
ld-w
eig
hte
d r
elat
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imp
act
3
Collaboration….
• ….is essentially about people, rather than institutions
• ‘Institutional’ collaborations and partnerships are an emerging trend globally = privileged pipeline and ‘pre-approved’ framework of access, permission and internal funding for PIs between universities
• Researchers, the research questions and outcomes remain key
• Research Managers and Administrators are increasingly important in collaboration process – and we’re people too
Research and Enterprise Development (RED): what we do
• Facilitate, advise and provide expert support• A team of teams, 80+ people
Enterprise, Innovation,
Commercialisation
Research contracts
Research IntegrityPolicy and
Intelligence
Research Development
and bid support
Project Management
Entrepreneurship skills and education
Research & Enterprise Development at University of Bristol
DirectorDavid Langley
August 2012
Wyvern Seed Fund Coordinator
Senior Research
Commercialisation Mgr
Head, Research Commercialisation
Director of Enterprise
Business Incubation
Incubation Administrative
Assistant
Contracts Manager
Head of Research and Enterprise
Policy
Senior Research and
Enterprise Policy Mgr
Head of Research
Governance
SETsquared Partnership
Manager
Modern Apprentice
Office Manager/ PA to Director
Head, Contracts and Project
Management
Senior Project Managers
Contracts Manager
Contracts/IP Administrator
Amaya Iriondo - coysh
Research Commercialisa
tion Mgrs
IP Systems Mgr
IP Administrator
Senior Project Mgr
(Governance)
Research Governance
Officer
Research & Human Tissue
Specialist
Project Managers
Incubator Receptionist
Senior Contracts Manager
(FMD, FMVS, Arts)
Business Incubation
Administrator
Head , Alliance Development
Business Account Mgr
Enterprise & Knowledge
Exchange Mgr
Research Policy
Manager
Senior Contracts Manager
(Sci, Eng, FSSL & cross-UoB)
Research Analyst
Contracts Manager
Contracts Officer
Head of Research
Development
Research Development
Mgr (Arts)
Research Development
Mgr (Sci)
Research Development
Associate(Eng and Sci)
Research Development
Associate(FSSL & Arts)
Research Development
Mgr (Eng)
Research Development Mgr (FSSL)
Research Development Mgr (FMVS)
Research Development Mgr (FMD)
Research Development
Officer
Research Development
Mgr EU
Research Development
Officer EU/Overseas
Research Development
Mgr EU/Overseas
International Development Mgr
Research Ethics Coordinator
Cabot Institute Manager
Research Information System
Administrator
REF Support Officer
REF Impact Officer
Student Enterprise Consultant
Graduate Entrepreneur in
Residence
Research Development
Associate(Med
Faculties)
Research Development
Officer
Research Development
Mgr
Research Development
Officer
Relationship Development
Officer
Head, Enterprise Education
Contracts/IP Administrator
Contracts/IP Assistant
Developing bi-lateral institutional relationships
• Bristol and Kyoto Universities • Both research intensive institutions• Kyoto’s Dept of Society and Academic
Collaboration with Industry (SACI) initiated contact with Bristol’s Dept of Research and Enterprise Development (RED) – early phase discussion and information sharing
• Mutual respect and agenda, devoted time and energy to build relationship, trust and eventually friendships
• The Presidents of UoB and KU supported the initial collaboration and shared the aspiration
• Ran workshops in a couple of easily identified academic areas of mutual interest – involved commitment, resource, travel, time and risk
• RED/SACI were (and still are) the foundation of the relationship, its maintenance and development
Bristol and Kyoto: building the relationship
Growing the relationship
2008Formal links started
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between RED and SACI
2008 – 2011Series of workshops including: Communications Engineering
Translational MedicineNatural Hazards and Disaster
Prevention
2011Institutional MoUsigned in 2011 with
intention to work together at an institutional level across a wide range of
disciplinesCatalyst to develop a major joint symposium to explore and develop collaborative
research.
2012 – 2013 EPSRC grant “Building Global
Engagements in Research” (BGER)Kyoto partnership one of four pathways that aimed to foster
international research and development of Bristol’s global
relationships. ~ £200k funded 15 activities, which
included 11 PhDs and ECRs,producing 9 papers and
7 grant applications
• Bristol hosted over 90 delegates from Kyoto University in January 2013
• Attended by more than 150 Bristol academics, research and professional staff, research students, research funders and sponsors.
• Part funded by external grant (£60k) and also by institutional funds from both universities
1st Bristol-Kyoto Symposium, 2013
Retinal Imaging/ Translational
Research
Risk and Natural Hazards
Academic-Industry Partnerships
Social Science and Law
Organic/InorganicChemistry
Nanotechnology and Stem Cell Biology
Novel Quantum Phases of Condensed
MatterDesign and Robotics
Mathematics Psychology Arts Economics Energy
Between Aug 2013 - July 2014
7 external grants receivedOver 40 staff exchanges
Over 25 student exchangesSignificantly more will be
involved in the wider engagements that have
been planned
Bristol-Kyoto Strategic Fund, Aug 2013 – July 2014
• University Research Committee investment of £100k between Aug 2013 - July 2014
• To help establish or develop sustainable research partnerships
• Provides opportunities for PhDs and researchers to develop their skills and international profile.
• £95k allocated to date
• Supporting 24 projects across 19 Schools, institutes or research centres
• Over 90% co-supported by Kyoto University
Outcomes in 2014 and beyond• 31 grant proposals directed to UK,
EU and Japanese• 3 joint PhD programmes to be
developed• 6 staff and student long term
exchange programme• Co-authored publications and
other joint outputs• Various joint events and visits
Bristol’s ACTLab are working with Kyoto on earthquake engineering
• RED is helping Kyoto University to develop their nascent research support structures , processes and people – professionalization of ‘URA’
• Workshop in February 2013 – URA grown from 9 posts to 60+ in three years, funded by Japanese Govt
2014
• The 2nd Symposium in Kyoto in January, attended by 60+ Faculty from Bristol plus distinguished VIPs
• Discussions on URA with British Embassy, British Council, ARMA/NCURA, and JST
• Kyoto SACI and URA staff on secondment to RED (1 week, 1 month and 1 year)
• Frequent Faculty and SACI/URA/RED (and now other professional services) meetings and visits
Some reflections
• Long term ‘game’ to reap rewards, both intangible and tangible
• Privileged, valued relationship but not exclusive • Accept that some research areas will atrophy, or
their aren’t obvious synergies or people with shared interests
• Initial lack of interest by Faculty builds to significant momentum when they see this is ‘the game in town’ and is valued and real
Some reflections
• Resource implications of time, money and people – need to take this seriously since it is a strategic investment/decision, c.f. many other possible priorities
• Regular face to face contact is essential
• Cultural understanding important e.g. business cards in Japanese
• Hugely positive, enjoyable and enriching experience, personally and professionally
Developing bi-lateral institutional relationships
• Bristol and Rochester Universities • Bristol and Rochester (UR) have recently
signed a strategic MoU, based on discussions and visits on the past year
• Institutions of similar quality, mission, culture, size and strengths – and shared need to internationalise
• Both members of Worldwide University Network (WUN)
Developing bi-lateral institutional relationships
• Bristol and Rochester Universities • Collaboration initiated by RED – initial visit to
UR by RED in 2012• Subsequent visits focused on one or two
‘obvious’ areas of mutual research strength; involved RED and a couple of senior Faculty; reciprocal visit in April 2014 by UR to Bristol
• RED and equivalents at UR are the relationship managers –open, honest, regular dialogue
• March 2014 – 10 Faculty (plus me) visited UR
EPSRC Building Global Engagements grant (£620k)
• Building on the institutional framework with Kyoto University • 1st Bristol-Kyoto symposium, responsive mode
applications for research activities.
• Developing existing bilateral partnerships• Centre of Quantum Photonics visit to Boston, MIT and
Harvard (5 year grant between Bristol, Tsinghua and Zhejiang Universities awarded) . Delegation by NSQI to Japan led to Bristol hosting the 7th Annual Nanobiotech. Symposium Nov 13
BGER Contd…
• Promoting nascent partnerships by supporting projects through a competitive internal fund• 28 projects across Bristol’s EPSRC research portfolio
funded researcher placements in overseas labs
• Developing multilateral networks in key University of Bristol research areas• Supporting student visits and a postgraduate
conference. An Energy Aware Computing Network (36 academic and industry participants)
Participation in an International Network
• Worldwide Universities Network • WUN was founded in 2000 and initially comprised 10
universities• Bergen, Bristol, California-San Diego, Leeds,
Southampton, Sydney, Toronto, Utrecht, Washington-Seattle, York
• Membership by invitation only: International research-intensive comprehensive universities
• WUN currently has 19 members spanning 6 continents
WUN Strategy
• Four GCs or collaborative research programmes founded in 2009➣ Reacting to Climate Change (RCC)➣ Global Higher Education and Research (GHEAR)➣ Global Public Health and Non-communicable
Diseases (GPH)➣ Understanding Cultures (UC)
Schemes
• WUN Central Research Development Fund• seed funds for research activities (£30k with matched funds)• IRGs proposed under the 4 GCs, with 3 or more WUN partners
• Bristol WUN Research Development Fund• Bristol WUN Symposium• Bristol WUN Small Grants Scheme• For matched funding with WUN Central RDF proposals• To fund participation in WUN Virtual Seminars• IAS/WUN Research Workshops
• Research Mobility Programme• Focus on early career research staff and PhD students• Visits of up to 6 months
Then what?
• Establishment of the RMA group in 2012• Advice on development of WUN research programs in the
interdisciplinary research groups and across the Global Challenges with the aim of securing national or international funding.
• Share intelligence, including knowledge of upcoming funding opportunities and key funding agency contacts and practices, with RMA Group colleagues, Global Challenge Steering Groups and the WUN Secretariat.
• Share best practice and general information and aim to provide leadership in professionalization activities
RMA group contd…
• Identify and share funding opportunities• Review of RDF projects on completion to
see if there is a fit with a national funding agency
• Assist researchers and Global Challenge Steering Groups in the preparation of grant applications to funding bodies
Successes (and failures)
• Global Innovation Initiative (GII) –new opportunity funded by UK and USA to strengthen research collaboration between universities in the UK, US, and selected countries
• IRG funded by WUN in 2013 (and 2014) to link international farm platforms - led by Bristol
• Application for WUN+ consortium funded by GII in Feb 2014 (11/160 applications to agriculture, food security and water strand)
Developing a new UoB International strategy (research)
• International Committee • Pro Vice-Chancellor, International (Chair)- Professor Nick Lieven • Faculty Deans x2 (Science and SS+L)• Director, Institute for Advanced Studies• Director, Research & Enterprise Development (or designate)• Director of Communications & Marketing• Head of Admissions and Recruitment • Head of International Office • Director of Human Resources• Director of Campaigns and Alumni (or designate)• Director of CELF• WUN Coordinator• Academic Registrar
Map of Web of Science publications data – UOB:US collaborations 2011-14
Map of Pure activities with an organisation in the United States (snapshot)
Activities with Harvard University (from Pure)
Number of activities in Pure = 4
Dr Abigail Fraser, Prof Michelle Cini, Dr Lindsay Nicholson, Prof Diana Worrall
Top 6 subject areas (WOS InCites – no. collaborations)• Genetics & Heredity (31)• Medicine, General & Internal (12)• Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (10)• Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (9)• Immunology (8)• Multidisciplinary Sciences (8)
Top 5 collaborating authors in Genetics & Heredity (WOS InCites – no. collaborations)• Professor David Evans (12) – has now left UoB• Professor George Davey Smith (12)• Dr Nicholas Timpson (10)• Professor Debbie Lawlor (9) • Dr Wendy McArdle (9)
Harvard University Collaborations (as at 4/3/14)
Activities with external organisations in Pure (as at 4/3/14)
There are 527* activities with international external organisations on Pure - 417 of these have been added to Pure since the 28th January 2014.
Top 5 activities:• Research and Teaching at External Organisation (222)• Invited talk (107)• Hosting an academic visitor (51)• Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working
groups (46)• Membership of external research organisation (46)
* Dataset only includes activities within time period 01/01/2011 – 28/02/2014, within Business and community, External academic engagement, Public engagement and outreach categories .
Developing bi-lateral institutional relationships
• Universities of Bristol and Berkeley• RED (Bristol) to RDO (Berkeley) visit
objectives• To exchange expertise on the management
and development of research and enterprise• To build working relationships in our research
offices for future collaboration• To begin identifying research areas with
synergy for future exploration
Universities of Bristol and Berkeley
• Over four days in October 2013: 17 meetings and a biotech industry networking event
• We now have a network of contacts across UC Berkeley and are well-placed to build a deeper relationship
• UC Berkeley prefers international collaborations to be academically-led, Bristol identifying current and potential research links
• Return visit from RDO (Berkeley) to RED (Bristol) Summer 2014
Challenges for the Research Manager
• Money and time• Tension between high risk potential low
pay off of international vs national funding• Building relationships with research
support offices overseas• Knowledge of less well understood
funders
Thank you for listening
