Support of Collaborative Research Groups at ESRF and ILL

Joint position statement by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Since April 2003, the funding for the operation and development of large scale research facilities for neutrons, synchrotron and laser has been provided by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (CCLRC at time of statement).

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (link opens in a new window) has continued to provide the support to individual research groups to carry out projects which use the facilities through research grants. Typically EPSRC funds the post doctoral research assistants and consumables with the research group accessing beam time at the facilities free at the point of access.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council  also provide the subscription for UK participation in the international facilities European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (link opens in a new window) and Institut Laue-Langevin (link opens in a new window) in Grenoble, France. This subscription provides support for the operation and development of the facilities as agreed by their respective governing bodies.

It is anticipated that the major interests of the UK research community will be provided for through access to public beamlines and the public elements of any private beamlines at these facilities which are resourced by the subscription paid by the Science and Technology Facilities Council .

However, in exceptional circumstances, where a clear scientific need that is of particular importance to the UK research programme and which can only be addressed by developing a beamline/instrument not available any where else, the EPSRC would be prepared to consider a request for Collaborative Research Group (CRG) support. This request would be judged on the usual Research Council criteria. In addition any proposal would need to explain the uniqueness of the required facility such that establishing a collaborative research group, at either ESRF or ILL, was the only route for taking forward the proposed programme of work. The Science and Technology Facilities Council would also be asked to comment on any proposal.

Any researcher who believes they have an opportunity that meets the requirements should discuss it with EPSRC. Any proposal which has not been discussed with EPSRC first, or which is solely aimed at securing beamtime for a particular research project will not be accepted.

Contacts

• Dr Jennifer Scratcher
  UK Advisor to ESRF and ILL
  Science and Technology Facilities Council
  Tel: +44 (0)1793 418 038
  
  
• Jane Nicholson
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
  Tel: +44 (0)1793 444 208
  
  
• Simon Crook
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
  Tel: +44 (0)1793 444 161