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United Kingdom
BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE GOVERNANCE OF SCIENCE IN UNITED KINGDOM
Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)
DIUS is responsible for the development, funding and performance management of the science and research base across the UK. The main objective is to ensure the UK continues to develop a world-class research base responsive to users and the economy, with sustainable and financially strong universities and public laboratories and a strong supply of scientists, engineers and technologists.
Government Office for Science (GO-Science)
GO-Science http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/science.html is headed by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) Professor John Beddington. The GCSA is responsible to the Prime Min-ister and Cabinet for the quality of scientific advice on scientific and science policy issues. GO-Science is part of DIUS.
The GCSA also:
oversees the Government's Foresight programme and Horizon Scanning Centre;
chairs the Global Science and Innovation Forum which co-ordinates the UK's international science and innovation strategy and delivery;
• o-chairs the Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technology; heads the Science and Engineering profession in UK Government.
The GO-Science's main activity in EU terms is to oversee UK participation in the EU's Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).
GO-Science is responsible for managing government-to-government science and technology relations with countries and international organizations globally. It has modest funds available to support British Embassies and High Commissions in developing collaborative activities with their host countries. In developed economies, including Belarus, this funding is called the Developed Economies Science and Innovation Grants for Networking (DESIGN).
DIUS funds the following seven Research Councils, which allocate public funds to support research projects and teams: Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) http://www.ahrb.ac.uk
AHRC supports research from traditional humanities subjects, such as history, modern languages
and English literature, to the creative and performing arts.
Biotechnology & Biological Science research Council (BBSRC) http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk BBSRC is the UK's principal funder of basic and strategic biological research. To deliver its mission, BBSRC supports research and research training in universities and research centres throughout the UK. It also promotes knowledge transfer from research to applications in business, industry and policy.
Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/default.htm
EPSRC is the UK government agency responsible for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing in a broad range of subjects - from mathematics to materials science, and from IT to structural engineering. Their research portfolio is delivered through programme areas, ranging from fundamental research to more applied topics. You can register for their email alert service to receive a weekly list of new EPSRC calls for proposals or subscribe to their calls for proposals news feed.
Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/about
ESRC funds research and training in social and economic issues. ESRC is piloting a policy of
allowing Co-Investigators from any country on research proposals to the ESRC, and limited
associated costs can be requested. Further details can be found at: http://www.esrcsocietytoday.
ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/international/inc_of_Coinvest.aspx?
Medical Research Council (MRC) http://www.mrc.ac.uk/index.htm MRC is dedicated to improving human health. The MRC's mission, is to:
0 encourage and support research to improve human health; 0 produce skilled researchers;
0 advance and disseminate knowledge and technology to improve the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the UK;
0 promote dialogue with the public about medical research;
0 stimulate international scientific collaborations. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) http://www.nerc.ac.uk
NERC delivers independent research, survey, training and knowledge transfer in the environ-mental sciences to advance knowledge of planet Earth. Through interactions of scientists across national boundaries, and scientific pursuits focused on specific areas of the globe, NERC will also provide routes for establishing good relationships among countries, http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/ international/strategy.asp
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) http://www.scitech.ac.uk/Home.aspx STFC is one of the world's largest multidisciplinary research organisations. The Council operates world-class, large scale research facilities and provides strategic advice to the UK government on their development. It also manages several international research projects in support of a broad cross-section of the UK research community.
The Council directs, co-ordinates and funds research, education and training directly through grants particularly in astronomy, particle physics, space science and nuclear physics. The Council is also the major stakeholder in the Diamond Light Source (a synchrotron). In November 2007 Diamond Light Source Ltd, and two Russian science institutes - the Kurchatov Institute and the Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography, strengthened their links by signing a wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding on collaborative research.
Department for International Development (DFID) http://www.dfid.gov.uk DFID's Central Research Department (CRD) commissions research aiming of ensuring tangible outcomes on the livelihoods of the poor. DFID funds research only if there are clear opportunities and mechanisms for the research to have a significant impact on poverty.
DFID's Research Funding Framework identifies four priorities:
0 sustainable agriculture;
0 killer diseases;
0 where states do not work for the poor;
0 climate change.
Information on both DFID current research programmes and completed research can be found at www.research4development.info/index.asp. When DFID issues calls for research proposals directly funded by CRD they are advertised at www.dfid.gov.uk/research/research-calls.asp and in relevant professional journals. DFID cannot consider unsolicited requests for research funding.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) http://www.fco.gov.uk
FCO has identified the promotion of a low carbon, high growth global economy amongst its four strategic policy goals. This includes creating the conditions for a rapid shift of investment towards sustainable low carbon technologies and the development of sound scientific and economic evidence for early action on climate change. Activities of the Global & Economic Issues Directorate and the Science & Innovation Network at diplomatic missions overseas include the promotion of new science and technology co-operation, financed by the Strategic Programme Fund (formerly the Global Opportunities Fund) http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/what-we-do/funding-programmes/ strat-progr-fund
FCO Scholarships and Fellowships encourage those who have the potential to become tomor-row's leaders, opinion formers and decision-makers to study in the UK. The programme comprises Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/what-we-do/funding-programmes/scholarships
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) http://www.defra.gov.uk DEFRA is a major funder of science, spending over ?300 million annually on research, monitoring and surveillance activities http ://www. defra. gov.uk/science/funding/fundindex. htm . Under the overarching aim of sustainable development, DEFRA has five strategic priorities:
0 sustainable consumption and production;
0 protecting the countryside and natural resource protection;
0 sustainable rural communities;
0 sustainable farming and food sector including animal health and welfare.
Royal Society http://www.royalsoc.co.uk
The Royal Society supports many top young scientists, engineers and technologists. It influences science policy, debates scientific issues with the public and much more. It is an independent, charitable body, which derives its authoritative status from its 1400 Fellows and Foreign Members. The Royal Society accepts nomina¬tions for overseas exchange grants from the NASB to carry out research in UK laboratories or universities.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/rse.htm
RSE initiates and supports activities, which enhance Scotland's involvement in global collaboration.
The object of the International Exchange Programme, funded by the Scottish Executive, is to
enable scholars and researchers to come to Scotland or to visit overseas from their Scottish academic base for a short period of time with a view to establishing ongoing collaboration. http://www.royalsoced. org.uk/international/exchanges/index.htm
The Wellcome Trust http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/funding
The Wellcome Trust funds innovative biomedical research, in the UK and internationally, spending around ?650 million each year to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. The Wellcome Trust also supports public debate about biomedical research and its impact on health and wellbeing.
Belarusian investigators are eligible to apply for Wellcome Trust funding as coapplicants with principle applicant scientists based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland in order to conduct collaborative research. More information about Wellcome Trust funding for researchers outside of the UK is available at: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Biomedical-science/International-funding/index. htm
British Council (ВС) - Science http://www.britishcouncil.org
ВС is the UK's organisation for promoting international cultural relations. It promotes greater international awareness of the UK's role in scientific creativity and innovation, increased scientific collaboration through the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information and demonstrable and sustained relationships and networks between young people involved and interested in science, engineering and technology.
The ВС has specific programmes dedicated to support science relations:
International Networking for Young Scientists (INYS) a scheme which funds international work-shops involving young researchers from the UK and other countries, http://www.britishcouncil.org/ science-research-inys2.htm
The Researcher Exchange Programme (RXP) a new ВС initiative which aims to promote the development of scientific co-operation between the UK and other countries http://www.britishcoun-cil.org/science-rxp.htm
The ВС partnership programmes promote links between British and higher education research institutions and laboratories in other countries working with local partners through offices outside of the UK.
UK-BELARUSOPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION
The Agreement on Cooperation in the Spheres of Education, Science and culture, concluded by UK and Belarus in 1995, constitutes the legal basis for S&T cooperation between two countries. Article 16 of the Agreement implies the creation of Intergovernmental Commission for programs of S&T cooperation forming and coordination.
In 1993 the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) concluded Menorandum on scientific cooperation with Royal Society (Research in Natural and Engineering Sciences), and in 2003 - Menorandum on scientific cooperation with British Academy (Research in Humanities). Each Memorandum provides mutual scientific visits realization on terms of financing stay expenses by hosting Academy.
A number of Agreements and Protocols on cooperation is signed on the level of scientific institutes and universities of two countries.
Since 2001 through the Calls of Belarusian Republican Fund on Fundamental Research (BRFFR) 12 Belarus-UK research projects bilaterally financed have been and are being fulfilled.
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?
The Researcher's Mobility Portal (UK)
A resource to help researchers coining to the UK. The ВС also has a special feature on women in science, engineering and technology.
http://www.britishcouncil.org/eumobility
http://www.britishcouncil.org/science-women.htm
SISTER
Support for International Science, Technology & Engineering Research http://www.britishcouncil.org/sister/contact.htm
The Newton International Fellowship
A scheme supporting the very best early stage post-doctoral researchers from all over the world, and offering support for two years at UK research institutions. It is run by the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society. The Fellowships cover a broad range of natural and social sciences, engineering and the humanities http://www.newtonfellowships.org
© National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 2011
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