Heads of Departments of Mathematical Sciences in the UK

Friday 3rd April 2009

by

David HarmanHead of Mathematical Sciences Programme

EPSRC GOALS 2008-11

Increase focus on the key challenges for society.

Encourage even more ambitious and transformative research in a healthy research base.

Attract and nurture talented and skilled people.

Work with all partners to more effectively translate/understand how research can contribute to solving the challenges facing society.

Realign our own internal organisation to deliver our goals most effectively.

THE WHOLE EPSRC PICTURE

Living with environmental change (£9M)Global threats to security (£6M)Ageing: life-long health and

wellbeing (£11M)

Values are commitment 2008-11

EPSRC PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

Mission Programmes - £300M portfolio in Energy; announcement of 3 Research Hubs in Digital Economy soon; Healthcare calls in medical engineering and cancer imaging.

Business Innovation – KTAs funded; Strategic Partnerships with industry valued at £180M; joint funding with TSB £40M; Industrial Sector focus; societal impact/public engagement focus.

Research Base – Responsive mode, Programme & Platform grants; major investment in CDTs; Fellowships; review by Council of ‘Securing the Future’.

Organisational – Review of peer review; economic impact; demand management.

CONCLUSION

Setting the agenda – through the Delivery Plan.

Development of Mission Programmes.

Maintaining capability and health of discipline through responsive mode and training.

Encouraging greater ambition and world impact.

Demonstrating the impact of STEM on society and the economy.

Developing a leaner, more agile and more responsive organisation.

Mathematical Sciences Programme

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Increase the world impact of UK research in the Mathematical Sciences.

Increase the connectivity between the Mathematical Sciences and application areas.

PRIORITIES WITHIN THE PROGRAMME

High quality fundamental research.

Maintain training programme.

Engagement with mission programmes and other areas.

Some priority for early career researchers.

FUNDING

Research £14M pa

Training £12M pa

ISSUES FOR THE PROGRAMME

Research Managing responsive modeEngagement with mission

programmes, other disciplines & industryProgramme Grants

Training Centres for Doctoral TrainingMasters trainingDevelop training plan for

Council reviewFellowships arrangements

Council-Wide Managing demandEconomic impactFirst grants