Delivering for the UK: Economic Impact

STFC has an impressive track record of research excellence through its academic communities and in-house research scientists and engineers. Our world-leading science and technology is fundamental to the delivery of Economic Impact (EI) for the UK.

In recognition of the growing importance of science and technology to the knowledge economy and wellbeing of the nation, and the need to deliver a step-change in EI output from public investment in the research base, STFC has undertaken a comprehensive review of its Knowledge Exchange programmes and reshaped these to maximise delivery in future years.

In the future we will be placing increasing emphasis on end user needs and challenge-led initiatives and a number of pilot schemes have been trialled over the past year as a start to this process. For example, the Particle and Nuclear Physics Applied Systems (PNPAS) call was a successful pilot scheme aimed at generating knowledge exchange in the areas of health, security and energy applications. STFC, together with STFC Innovations Ltd, our wholly owned exploitation vehicle, aims to catalyse knowledge exchange and economic impact arising from all STFC activities including programmes at Higher Education Institutions, international facilities, Science and Innovation Campus developments, and our own UKbased laboratories.

The Science and Innovation campuses at Harwell and Daresbury remain an important element of the EI programme and will provide a unique platform for public and private sector participation in science and technology programmes across disciplines and sectors. Within the framework of the campus developments, we have taken significant steps over the past year in developing the scientific and business cases for the STFC Science and Technology Gateway Centres and through these we aim to provide customised access routes to our capabilities and expertise of benefit to UK scientific and industrial sectors.

Definition of EI

An action or activity has an economic impact when it affects the welfare of consumers, the profits of firms and/or the revenue of government. Economic impacts range from those that are readily quantifiable, in terms of greater wealth, cheaper prices and more revenue, to those less easily quantifiable, such as effects on the environment, public health and quality of life.

PNPAS Success

• 36 Expressions of Interest received.
  
  
• Shortlisted to 11 by an external panel of experts. Projects given mentoring to develop their ideas into full proposals which were then presented orally to the panel.
  
  
• In March 2009, 5 awards were offered.
  
  
• A further 4 projects have been given further support by the panel and alternative external sources of funding are continuing to be sought.
  
  
• Now undertaking a review of the PNPAS Pilot and plan to build on this through future Challenge led calls in conjunction with the Futures Programme.