PRESENTATION BY DR LESLEY THOMPSON, EPSRC AT PHEE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

11 JANUARY 2012

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

The world is changing

fast-moving landscape

economic uncertainty

global challenges

10 - 50 year time frame

It has never been more important to work together to deliver a healthy, sustainable and prosperous future for the UK

STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS

EPSRC DELIVERY PLAN 2011 – 2015

Engineering and physical sciences are at the heart of the economy.

EPSRC is the only major dedicated national funder of long-term fundamental engineering and physical sciences research and training in the UK and remains absolutely committed to excellence and impact.

The research we sponsor will be driven by visionary leaders and will be both internationally excellent and deliver long-term impact for the health, prosperity and sustainability of the nation and the world.

4

WHY SHAPE?….EXCELLENCE – JULY 2009

Overall Relative Rankings (1998-2008)

USA

USA

USA

UKUK

UK UK

UK

Germany

Germany

GermanyGermany Germany

France France

France

France

France

Japan

JapanJapan

Japan

Japan

China

China

China

China

ChinaCanada

Canada

CanadaCanada

Canada

ItalyItaly

Italy

Italy

Italy

0.00

0.40

0.80

1.20

1.60

2.00

1998-2

002

1999-2

003

2000-2

004

2001-2

005

2002-2

006

2003-2

007

2004-2

008

1998-2

002

1999-2

003

2000-2

004

2001-2

005

2002-2

006

2003-2

007

2004-2

008

1998-2

002

1999-2

003

2000-2

004

2001-2

005

2002-2

006

2003-2

007

2004-2

008

1998-2

002

1999-2

003

2000-2

004

2001-2

005

2002-2

006

2003-2

007

2004-2

008

1998-2

002

1999-2

003

2000-2

004

2001-2

005

2002-2

006

2003-2

007

2004-2

008

Total No. of Papers Total No. of Citations Citations per Paper % of country's outputw hich are 'Highly Cited'

% of country's output in top0.1% of World's output

Rela

tive t

o G

rou

p A

vera

ge (

Avera

ge=

1)

USA above 2.94USA above 2.38

WHY NOW? - THE SCIENTIFIC LANDSCAPE IN 2011R&D Spending Selected Countries 2000 - 2015 Extrapolation of Future Publication Trends - 2020

1995-96

1996-97

1997-98

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

-20.00%

-10.00%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF RESEARCH - RELATIVE REAL TERMS GROWTH RATES

Life Sciences Research Growth

Other Research Growth

% G

row

t h

co

mp

ared

to

199

5/96

Note: Data excludes HEFCE QR and other funding not directly attributable to an area

£4,581M

£1,996M

SPENDING REVIEW ALLOCATION (2011/12 – 2014/15)

Resource Capital Admin

“Flat cash” & ring fenced

Overall reduction ~ 50%

Overall reduction ~ 34 % with inflation

Yr 1 fixed, Yrs 2 – 4 indicative

Yr 1 fixed, Yrs 2 – 4 indicative

Total S & R £18.3bn

HEFCE £6.7bn

RCs £10.4bn

Total S & R £1.9bn

RCs £800m

EPSRC £3bn (by end of CSR 3% cash reduction, 12% reduction with inflation)

EPSRC £116m (excludes HPC funding from LFCF)

EPSRC £62m (Near Cash)

8

March 2010

EPSRC StrategicPlan 2010

Comprehensive Spending Review

December 2010

EPSRC Delivery Plan 2011-2014

July 2011

Our Portfoliopublished

Engagement

March 2012

Full Shaping Capability plans

EPSRC Landscapes2009

June 2009

WHERE HAVE WE REACHED…

Completed by March 2012

Peer Review Decision Makingfrom April 2012

CONCEPTUALLY SHAPING IS…

A B

Current landscape Where we are headingHOW TO GET FROM A TO B?WHAT DOES B LOOK LIKE?

PEER REVIEW WILL BE CRITICAL

Landscape “B” must:• meet the long term needs of users and facilitate future economic growth for the UK• be resilient and retain the ability to respond to new challenges and opportunities • ensure continuing excellence with impact

The need for a strategic apprroach

HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO MY RESEARCH PROJECT?

PORTFOLIO SHAPE (OUR PORTFOLIO PUBLICATION)

RESEARCHTRAJECTORIES

PROPOSALDEVELOPMENT

PORTFOLIOOUTCOMES

Response through university& researcher strategies

Comment and feedbackon portfolio shape

Participation in project level Peer Review

New emerging themesLeft-field ideas

Participation and discussioncapability level – GROW / MAINTAIN / REDUCE)

LeadingEvaluation &Benchmarking

WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR PEER REVIEW?

Peer review is central to achieving the strategic goals

Adapting current processes, phasing some changes over the next six months

Main changes

Capital Equipment

National Importance as an assessment criterion

Fit to the EPSRC portfolio - New panel process from October 2012

Peer review principles remain unchanged

FINALLY…

Planned New Commitment – Delivery Plan 2011/12 – 2014/15