March
Research and Innovation update from Prof
Brian Reid, Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation
-
This message has been sent to all UEA staff and postgraduate researchers -
Welcome to this March update!
Since the last update, UEA has hosted a visit from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The group provided updates on EPSRC priorities and
upcoming opportunities. They also ran a session to consult with our ECRs and further drop-ins across key elements of the EPSRC ITC remit. It was a well-received opportunity to present our EPSRC facing research and innovation activities and to show EPSRC our
facilities and campus.
There are lots of interesting elements in the update. I am sure you will find something that catches your attention.
I hope you all find the opportunity to recharge over the spring break.
Brian
New UEA Generative AI Policy for Research and Innovation
UEA is committed to providing support and protecting staff and all students (UGs, PGTs and PGRs) in their use
of generative artificial intelligence (AI). As part of this commitment, the University has developed the
Generative AI Policy for Research and Innovation
under the UEA AI Working Group (chaired by Professor Kay Yeoman, APVC LTE).
This
policy sets out the University’s position on the use of generative AI tools by researchers undertaking research and innovation activities as part of their UEA role. The potential of generative AI is recognised but this must be balanced with managing its risks,
and it is crucial to exercise caution and adopt responsible practices when utilising these tools. Researchers should be mindful of the following: security risks, legal aspects of data protection, ethical issues, intellectual property protection, and other
considerations such as biases and inadvertent data linkages when involving generative AI tools.
The University is developing its knowledge and expertise of the many aspects of generative AI relating to research
and innovation, and the policy will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it remains current in light of the rapid developments in generative AI technology.
Please ensure that you are familiar with this new policy. Further details relating to the use of generative
AI tools in research and innovation is available on the portal.
UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships round 9 – call for expressions of interest
The Future Leaders Fellowships scheme supports early career researchers and innovators with outstanding potential to lead ambitious research and innovation programmes
across UKRI’s remit. Fellowships provide long-term flexible funding to tackle difficult and novel challenges and support adventurous, ambitious programmes. UEA can submit four applications in this round, and we will therefore hold an institutional sift process.
We are keen to attract a broad pool of potential applicants from across the University and beyond. If you are transitioning to or establishing independence and are interested in applying, please see
further details.
UEA’s deadline for expressions of interest is by
9am on Tuesday 9 April. UKRI’s submission deadline for selected applications is Tuesday 18 June.
ARIA focused calls to be launched
Over the coming months
ARIA plan to release
funding calls for focused programmes (£10-£100m across a portfolio of awardees) and seeds (£10k-£500k per project). The first programmes launch this month. Their funding terms have been created with an aim to move fast and attract the best talent and ideas.
They will be holding a series of Webinars to increase awareness of how they are working and what they are working
on - see hyperlink below.
ARIA is an R&D funding agency, created by an act of parliament, and sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation
and Technology, who aim to fund projects across the full spectrum of R&D disciplines, approaches, and institutions. They have defined
seven
initial opportunity spaces likely to yield big breakthroughs for society.
UKRI peer reviewing
The University recently hosted a visit by the EPSRC ITC Team during which it was highlighted that part of the delays in getting grant funding decisions made was the drastic decline in engagement with peer
reviewing (a drop from 60% to 30% response rate). There are several ways that members of the research community can help:
-
All researchers are encouraged to make sure their profiles on JeS are up to date, as this helps massively with the selection of potential peer reviewers. Especially check your email address is correct.
-
Please seriously consider accepting any invitations to review proposals, it’s potentially a great developmental opportunity and should be considered part of academic collegiality – if you’re applying for grant funding
then you should also play a part in the process for others. If you don’t think that the proposal you’re being invited to review is in your area of expertise or the timeline is too tight, please tell the Research Council representative who invited you, it may
be that they just need part of the proposal reviewing or that deadlines can shift.
-
But whatever, please always reply, even if to decline, so that the review process is not delayed.
-
Look into joining the peer review college for the Research Council most appropriate to your field. Membership offers additional benefits such as insights to the decision-making process and training:
AHRC
BBSRC
EPSRC
Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN)
UPEN is a community of UK universities that aims to increase the impact of
academic research on local, regional, national, and international government policy. Founded in 2018, the community has over 100 members, including UEA.
UPEN’s central idea is that good policy is built on good evidence. On this basis, UPEN acts as a broker between UK universities and policymakers. In this role, UPEN
draws from the UK government’s “Areas of Research Interest” (ARIs). Through ARIs, UK government departments communicate the big policy-related research questions to which they need answers. Details of the latest ARIs can be found here
on the gov.uk website.
UPEN has produced
a useful report that summarises current ARIs as well as opportunities
for academic-policy engagement. If you would like to respond to a particular ARI, you can find each government department’s ARI contact information in the report’s appendix.
Professor Naresh Pandit (NBS) is UEA’s UPEN Academic Lead.
Innovation Development Fund
UEA researchers are invited to apply to the Innovation Development Fund for follow-on funding to develop their innovation projects. Awards will
be in the region of £20,000 to £50,000. In exceptional circumstances, awards of up to £75,000 will be considered. Innovation Development Fund applications are now reviewed annually at the last Innovation Executive meeting of the academic year.
The deadline for expressions of interest is Saturday 27 April, and applications will be reviewed when the Innovation Executive meets on Saturday
8 June. Examples of eligible activities include:
-
Further development of Innovation Catalyst Fund projects
-
Development of licensable technologies
-
Advanced prototype development
-
Development of a business plan
-
Work to support spin-out company formation
Please contact the
Intellectual Property Team in RIN with expressions of interest. You
will be given an application form and assigned an advisor to guide and support you with your application.
Please visit the
UEA managed funds webpage for
further information on this and other funding opportunities.
Cambridge #21towatch success
UEA teams were recently shortlisted for Cambridge #21toWatch. #21toWatch is a dedicated campaign to showcase and highlight the maybe lesser known, recognising
those exciting new entries across all market sectors, and celebrating the very best work going on today in the region.
The final Top21 were selected from a shortlist of 40 out of 301 applications - and across a range of sub-sectors spanning aerospace, insurtech, augmented reality, AI and biotechnology. Learn more on
the #21toWatch website.
Academy of Social Sciences (ACSS) - Policy Monitor March 2024
The March 2024 issue of the Policy Monitor is now available. You can access it from
the ACSS website.
The Policy Monitor comes out monthly, highlighting current government consultations and parliamentary inquiries where social science evidence would be useful. It covers
the UK and devolved governments and parliaments.
If you have any queries about the academy, or would like to be added to their Policy Monitor circulation list, please contact
Steve Grundy (Senior Campaign Manager, Academy of Social Sciences).
UEA joins inaugural EDP Business Festival
Plans are in the final stages for the University to support the inaugural
EDP Business Festival, organised by LocalIQ, Norfolk Chambers of Commerce
and Norwich BID. The fortnight-long festival runs from 15–26 April and has the objective of encouraging Norfolk business to support Norfolk business. Via the delivery of free to attend events, the festival aims to bring sectors together, raise visibility of
Norfolk brands and share information and collaborate to help Norfolk thrive.
As part of our involvement, the School of Computing Science will be hosting an event with the working title of ‘How can AI future proof your business’ at 5pm on Wednesday
17 April. Attendees from the local business community will learn more about how AI and machine learning could transform their business and how academic expertise could support their innovation
agendas.
Drop a line to
business@uea.ac.uk if you would like to be kept informed as exact plans are published and event registrations open.
UEA’s Horizon Europe Gender Equality Plan updated
RIN has been supporting Matt Gooch in Organisational Development Services (part of the People and Culture Division) in updating UEA's Horizon Europe 'Gender
Equality Plan'.
From 1 January 2024, the UK is once again fully associated to Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme. This important programme
requires that any applicant applying to a Call must have a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place and published on its website by the time of the signing of any grant agreement (should a proposal be successful).
To be eligible to take up the funding, it is mandatory that universities can formally evidence in their GEP that they have in place certain minimum process-related
requirements when it comes to commitment to gender equality - including dedicated resources; strong performance data collection, monitoring and reporting; and awareness raising/training activities.
UEA first published a GEP in 2022, approved by UEA’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Committee. It has subsequently been reviewed annually via this
committee, including in March 2024, allowing us to bring it up to date with relevant new initiatives that UEA has put in place.
Innovation Hub at the Royal Norfolk Show
Agri-TechE is once again hosting its Innovation Hub at the Royal Norfolk
Show (26 & 27 June) this year, and is now taking expressions of interest.
With over 80,000 visitors attending on average, the Royal Norfolk Show provides a fantastic opportunity to share your work with a wide-ranging group of people including
Show VIPs, farmers, growers and other agribusiness, in addition to interested members of the public who attend the show. There is the added bonus of profile in the run up to the show through local and national press, as well as online.
Take a look at a
quick snippet video taken during VIP visits last year to get a sense of what
the show is about.
The Agri-TechE Innovation Hub will consist of researchers and technology companies, mostly members of the network.
Take a look at these photos and comments from last years’ exhibitors
for a glimpse of what to expect.
What’s in it for you:
-
High profile-raising opportunity with local and national press, as well as being on the route for show VIPs. These have included the Secretary of State, the NFU President, Mark Spencer, Minister of State for Food,
Farming and Fisheries; visiting dignitaries, and the President of the Royal Norfolk Show.
-
Increase your outreach engagement by interacting with farmers, commercial and technical service providers, and members of the public.
-
Access to the show, including staff and parking passes. It costs less than £100 to take part, any additional charges (electricity, wi-fi etc) may apply.
-
Your presence in Agri-TechE comms and socials. Additionally, they capture lots of high-res photos of each stand holder (hopefully with some VIPs that visit) and send these to you to use as you like.
If you are interested in this opportunity and have access to budget to allocate towards the costs of exhibiting, please contact
uea.innovation@uea.ac.uk to register your interest and request further details.
Brian Reid, Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation
UK Top 25 (Complete
University Guide 2023) and UK Top 30 (The Times/Sunday Times 2024)
UK Top 20 for research quality (Times Higher Education Rankings for the Research Excellence Framework 2021)
World Top 50 (Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2023)
World Top 100 for research citations (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023)
Athena SWAN Silver Award Holder (since 2019) in recognition of advancement towards gender equality for all (Advance HE)
Published: