Research Councils and other research funding
The Research Councils' funding forms part of the dual support system for research funding.
The Research Councils provide funding for specific projects. They have committed to paying a fixed amount of the full economic costs (fEC) of projects that they commission. Since September 2005 this has been 80 per cent fEC for new Research Council grants. A further 10 per cent is now provided through capital investment, contributed to by the Research Councils and distributed by HEFCE. It is the intention of the Government to increase the percentage to 100 per cent over time.
There are seven Research Councils, organised by discipline:
- Arts and Humanities Research Council
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Medical Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
Research Councils UK is a strategic partnership set up to champion research supported by the eight UK Research Councils.
Research funding is also provided by a range of sponsors including charities, the NHS, industry and commerce and the European Union. The scale of this funding varies according to subject area. It is very significant in areas such as medical research.
Last updated 2 July 2008