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Strategic research collaboration - SDF support

In February 2005 we decided we will support innovative strategic research collaboration between HEIs where this is likely to improve strength, quality and responsiveness of the national research base; and where it is clear that the partners have a real commitment to sustained strategically-driven collaboration. We will fund such collaboration via our Strategic Development Fund (SDF).

HEIs interested in developing a proposal on strategic research collaboration to be funded in this way should approach their HEFCE institutional team at an early stage. Proposals will need to address the SDF criteria, and HEIs should follow the general guidance in HEFCE 2007/22. In addition, proposals for strategic research collaboration will need to address all of the following criteria.

• Research excellence

  • Proposals designed to support and develop research of the highest quality and to make a significant contribution to carrying forward research, at a high level nationally, in the disciplines concerned.

• Strategy and sustainability

  • Proposals should build and support strategic collaboration, on a significant scale and with a credible strategy for sustainability, between two or more HEIs (and involving other partners where possible and appropriate). Proposals should demonstrably spring from and carry forward the HEIs' strategic plans. There should be clear evidence of joint planning and credible proposals for shared management.
  • Proposals should build and consolidate high-quality capacity in particular fields where this is more likely to be achieved in collaboration and with targeted support.
  • Proposals should build on existing and complementary research strengths of the partners. Proposals that involve less research-intensive institutions in ways that enable them to establish or maintain an effective continuing contribution to a sustainable research base will be positively received.
  • Proposals consonant with the strategic aims of the Regional Development Agency, and of other stakeholders as appropriate (for example, the NHS for medical research).
  • Proposals should ideally be designed to act as a springboard for further collaboration between the partners.

• Research content

  • Proposals should be for innovative, leading-edge work that will carry forward work in the discipline(s) on the national or international scene.
  • Appropriate elements of research training (including high quality research degree provision) and of knowledge transfer activity arising from the research to be supported should be in place.

• Building on existing provision

  • Proposals should build on existing activity in the partner HEIs that is funded from dual-support sources. In other words the partners bring significant existing resources to the table rather than requesting entirely additional funding for additional activity. This may include proposals to further develop existing partnership arrangements. Proposals should, however, be designed not only to maintain and consolidate existing activity in areas of strength, but to secure a 'step change' advance by developing and building on these to generate new and innovative activity growing out of the partners' aggregated existing research base.

• A proper call on HEFCE funding

  • The requested HEFCE funding should be for activities and facilities that we would normally expect to fund under dual support, and that the collaborating partners cannot reasonably be expected to fund from other sources. Where appropriate, funding from other sources should be in place and will be seen as a positive indicator.
  • Where proposals are part of a clear strategy to refocus the partners' research portfolios, we accept that it may be necessary to provide additional funds for new activity for a period before offsetting reductions come on-stream.
  • Assumptions about continuation funding should be credible, and in particular not predicated on expectations of a further increase in global quality-related research (QR) funding after 2008.
  • All proposals should meet key criteria for management:
    1. Clear and credible costs, timing, milestones and outcomes.
    2. Effective governance and management arrangements - including provision for resolving foreseeable issues around the sharing of funding and control.

Last updated 28 August 2009