RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE

Minutes of the first meeting of the Research and Enterprise Committee in the 2008/09 academic session, held on Wednesday 1st October 2.15 pm in Room 028, Blake, Medway Campus

PRESENT:Prof T Barnes (Chair)Prof A Reed (Vice-Chair)Ms T Banton (GRE/Acting Secretary)

Prof C Bailey (CMS)Mr D Beazleigh (Finance)Ms W Curran (Finance)Dr M Davies (GRE)Prof D Isaac (Architecture & Construction)Dr J Jameson (Education & Training)Dr S Richardson (Science)Mrs L Spencer (RSAO)Mr J Wallace (Administrative Secretary)Prof E West (Health & Social Care)Prof G White (Business)Dr S Woodhead (Engineering)

APOLOGIES Dr N Dasgupta (Humanities)Prof E Galea (CMS)Prof A Mathie (Pharmacy)Dr J Morton (NRI)Prof A Westby (NRI) Dr D Wray (Science)

ITEMS FROM THE CHAIR

Prof Barnes welcomed members to the first meeting of the new academic year and introduced to the Committee, Dr Martin Davies, Director of Research and Enterprise, GRE who joined the University on the 1st September, 2008.

Prof Barnes reminded members that the offices of GRE are now relocated to the 1st floor, Queen Mary building on the Greenwich campus. Dr Davies took the opportunity to inform members that all GRE staff will be operating an open-door policy, all are welcome at anytime to discuss research and enterprise matters.

08.5.1 MINUTES OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE HELD IN 2008 ON THE 25th JUNE

The minutes of the Research and Enterprise Committee held on the 25th June 2008 were agreed.

08.5.2 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

08.5.2.1 Mr Beazleigh presented an information session on the 9 th of September 2008, to explain the accrual accounting system for research revenues to Directors of Research. Members of the committee felt that the rescheduling of this seminar at short notice resulted to a small number of attendees. Prof Barnes requested for the seminar to be held again in the near future with a more reasonable notice period.

Action: Mr Beazleigh to inform Committee members of the next seminar date.

08.5.3 GREENWICH RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE

08.5.3.1 Research and Enterprise Activity Reports

Prof Barnes presented the end of year figures, representing the final figures with regards to Research and Enterprise activity for 2008/07. Revenues had increased between 30/06/08 to 31/07/08 to a total of £10 million for the 2007/08 year. The increase was largely due to work undertaken in CMS, Science and NRI.

However, total revenue had decreased between the years 2005/06 and 2007/08 due to a decline in contracting from 2004/05 to 2006/07. Fortunately, contracts started in 2007/08 had increased overall, mainly due to the large Gates Foundation grant to NRI. There was a slight drop in contracting for CMS between 2006/07 and 2007/08.

Prof Barnes presented a breakdown of the revenues by funding source which displayed the largest proportion of revenues came from overseas funders (mainly via NRI), followed by UK Central Government and the Research Councils. Prof Barnes informed members that the University of Greenwich is the most successful of the Million + group, winning £4.7 million EPSRC funding over the last ten years.

Prof Barnes highlighted that while the University should actively seek EU funding - members and their colleagues should consult with GRE and Finance to assist with the costing of proposals, to avoid under budgeting for staff time and resources. In order to assist bids for certain streams of EU funding, Prof Barnes reminded members that funds from the University of Greenwich internal Investment Programme could under some circumstances be used as matched funding.

Prof Reed queried the types of revenues captured under the ‘Other’ category. Ms Curran informed members that the category included a variety of income sources not suited to any of the well-defined categories. Ms Curran also confirmed that the ‘Other’ category encompasses income generated from GUEL, short courses and conference income.

Dr Woodhead highlighted that the contracting figures normally gave an indication of income that would be generated over two or three year research grants. However, in Engineering a large proportion of income comes from relevantly small and short-term contracts. The time delay between contracts recorded and revenue was therefore shorter for Engineering and the difference between contracting and revenue in a rising market would not be so large as for some schools. Members discussed further the benefits and drawbacks of undertaking small contracts in comparison to larger awards.

The committee agreed that the balance would depend on the business model used within individual Schools, including the administration associated with the setting up of the award.

Dr Jameson enquired as to whether Prof Barnes wished to be notified of the anomalies within the financial data for Education. In reply, Prof Barnes pointed out that Directors of Research and Enterprise now have monthly reports of all contracting activity in their schools as recorded by Finance. He urged Committee members to contact Wendy Curran to resolve any queries, discrepancies, or concerns with the figures provided.

Using the School of Engineering’s concrete and materials testing services as an example, Dr Davies requested for members to determine the six products or services that are most regularly requested (by external funders), and which in due course would be promoted by School Business Development Managers. Schools should consider the option of providing these services at a fixed rate with a streamlined delivery process. This would then provide more time to undertake more speculative research and research fund-raising.

Prof Bailey queried whether a financial costing tool is now available to assist with the calculation of resources for bids. Prof Barnes confirmed an excel spreadsheet will be uploaded onto the research information webpages over the next few weeks but at present is readily available for use by contacting GRE.

Action: All to send a description of services or products requested on a regular basis that is achievable within Schools to Dr Davies.

08.5.3.2 Research and Enterprise Funding Opportunities

Ms Banton presented the following funding calls for the Committee to note:

08.5.3.2.1 Leverhulme Trust: International Networks for Academic Collaboration08.5.3.2.2 Department of Health, National Institute for Health Research: Research for Patient

Benefit08.5.3.2.3 The Wellcome Trust: Arts Awards08.5.3.2.4 EPSRC, Knowledge Transfer Accounts – Chair moved this item for discussion under

agenda item 708.5.3.2.5 Technology Strategy Board: Collaborative Research and Development Competition:

High Value Manufacturing – Step Changes and Value Systems

08.5.3.3 Proposal to co-host the FP7 European Research Council Advanced Grant Proposal Writing Event

Ms Banton brought to the attention of the Committee a proposal to co-host in conjunction with the UK Research Office (UKRO), a bid-writing seminar targeted towards senior researchers of the University. The event is scheduled be held at the Greenwich campus. Members recommended that the event should take place on the 2nd December 2008 and regarded this as good opportunity for obtaining prospective funding from the European Research Council.

08.5.4 ITEMS FROM SCHOOLS

08.5.4.1 Directors of Research and Enterprise Presentations on Successes, Opportunities and Challenges in Research and Enterprise activities in each School

Dr Jameson: Education

Successes Jackie Farr has been invited to present a paper at the National Network of

Advisory Teachers for Physically Impaired Pupils (NNATPIP) next June (2009) as a result of research carried out in her preliminary investigation for her EdD degree.

Keith Good has been invited to speak at King’s College School, Cambridge re. Primary Design &Technology links between King’s and Greenwich.

Cecilia McKelvey contributed to a conference on the launch of the ASSOC ONLine site in May 2008 (ASSOCiate Online). The development is now managed by HUDCETT (at the University of Huddersfield) and aims to provide a method for trainee teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector to augment their subject specialist skills/ knowledge.

In September 08, Ken Marsh successfully achieved E10,000 European funding with the The Finnish National Board of Education as part of a wide European partnership responding to the EEC tender AO/ECVL/RLAR/TT- Changing-competences/014/08 ‘Changing roles and competences for VET teachers and trainers’.

Dr Gordon Ade-Ojo’s abstract for the Special Issue of Research Papers in Education was accepted: Gordon was invited to develop a full paper for publication by June 09.

Professor Ian McNay completed revisions to the chapter on Research Assessment for an Open University Press collection edited by Lisa Lucas and Angela Brew (forthcoming, 2009) linked to his invited presentation to the international ARMA/ INORMS 2008 conference on 'Comparative Approaches to Research Assessment', reviewing approaches to research quality assessment around the world 16 June 2008.

Professor Ian McNay continued to edit Research in Higher Education Abstracts, a journal published by Taylor Francis/SRHE three times a year.

Professor Ian McNay was appointed Trustee of Coventry University Students' Union.

Professor Ian McNay carried out the role of External Examiner for a doctoral viva at the University of Lancaster, examining a PhD thesis reporting work based on McNay’s own instrument for scenario development for HE.

Professor Patrick Ainley published a chapter entitled ‘The variety of student experience, Investigating the complex dynamics of undergraduate learning in “The Times Top 30” and other universities in England’ with Mark Weyers in Canaan, J. and Shumar, W. (eds) Structure and Agency in the Neoliberal University London: Routledge, 2008, 978-0-415-95672-7, pp.131-152.

Professor Patrick Ainley’s journal article for Studies in Higher Education on ‘Researching the Variety of Student Experience: some modest proposals’ was submitted and is now forthcoming for publication.

Professor Patrick Ainley was invited to write a review article for the British Journal of Sociology of Education on the nature of knowledge.

Professor Patrick Ainley’s educational and campaigning pamphlet with Martin Allen was published: A New 14+: Vocational Diplomas and the Future of Schools, Colleges and Universities, sponsored by Ealing Teachers? Association (NUT) and supported by Greenwich University UCU, Lond: Radicaled.wordpress.

Professor Patrick Ainley took part in a seminar on Tues 16 th September 2008 at the University of Leeds Lifelong Learning Institute on Higher Education and

Lifelong Learning: the commodification of learning? on the subject of ‘Commodification, alienation and fetishism: what’s new in relation to changing divisions of knowledge and labour?’

Professor Patrick Ainley delivered the keynote address to the British Education Studies Association Annual Conference at Liverpool Hope University on 27/6/08 on the subject: What Education Studies Is and What it Might Become, to be subsequently published in the Education Studies Association Journal and repeated at the University of Greenwich in an open lecture on Nov 3rd.

As Co-Chair of ALT-C 2008, Dr J Jameson was one of three main opening speakers welcoming a record number of 700+ delegates to this international conference and delivering the introduction to the final keynote of the conference by Professor David Cavello of MIT Media Lab/One Laptop Per Child initiative on 11th September, 2008.

Dr Jill Jameson was appointed a Fellow of the Institute for Learning in Sept., 2008.

Dr Jill Jameson’s presentation on the eLIDA CAMEL Model of Collaborative Partnership at the ICEL 2008 International Conference at UCT, Cape Town, was selected for publication in the Special Issue of the e-Journal EJEL, the companion journal for the ICEL Conference 2008 in South Africa, by Professor Shirley Williams and Professor Laura Czerniewicz (eds).

JISC infoNet donated £5,000 to the School for Dr Jill Jameson, Director of the JISC eLIDA CAMEL and her project team, for the development of a website to publicise the eLIDA CAMEL outputs. Simon Walker, Deputy Director eLIDA CAMEL, will be helping to take forward these developments.

Dr Jill Jameson’s commissioned paper on ‘Leadership in Post-compulsory Education’ for the ESCalate Discussion in Education series was submitted for publication by Stirling University’s ESCalate, the UK Higher Education Academy Subject Centre.

Dr Jill Jameson’s abstract on ‘Trust, resistance and values-based leadership in higher and further education’ was accepted for a full paper presentation at the Society for Research in Higher Education (SRHE) Conference in Liverpool, December, 2008.

The journal article ‘Capturing Teachers’ Experience of Learning Design Through Case Studies’ by Dr Liz Masterman of Oxford University, Dr Jill Jameson and Simon Walker of Greenwich, was accepted for publication in the 2009 special issue of the journal Distance Education.

Dr Jill Jameson was invited to be a Board Member of The Open Journal Journal.

Dr Jill Jameson’s journal paper proposal for ‘Distributed Leadership and the Visibility/Invisibility Paradox in Online Communities’ was accepted without amendment for publication in the Special Issue of Human Technology: An Interdisciplinary Journal on Humans in ICT Environments: Distributed Leadership & Online Communities edited by: Dr Niki Lambropoulos & Dr. Leslie Gadman (2009).

Dr Jill Jameson was invited to present a paper at ‘User Innovation Networks’, one of the parallel sessions of ‘Online Communities and Social Computing’ at the HCI International Conference 2009 in San Diego, California, to be published by Springer in a multi-volume set in the LNCS and LNAI series.

Dr Jill Jameson was invited by Bentham Science Publishers to be the Series Editor of an E-books series on Education.

Professor Yiannis Gabriel will present a session on Storytelling and Organisational Research Methodology on 21st October as part of the research training sessions being organised by the School of Education and Training with the Schools of Health & Social Care & Architecture & Construction.

Opportunities A £20,000 Tender for the Communities for the Future Groundwork/SEEDA

Project was submitted in September, 2008 for a NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) 11-14 Education research project: opportunities linked to this in regional research and enterprise can be followed up.

The appointment of a new Business Development Manager (BDM) with the School of Health and Social Care provides a significant opportunity to take through to completion new bids in education and training R&E.

European and other funding opportunities are being pursued following attendance at the University’s workshops on grant applications and finance.

Olympics funding opportunities for Education continue to be followed through by Dr Jane Barnard as part of the HEIF-funded project, while Dr Colin Reeves is representing the School on the Olympics working group.

Considerable opportunities for new research funding bids are being pursued with several research-active staff in the School, notably in HE management, e-learning, leadership, complexity and professionalism.

Challenges Replacement of Research Active staff: there is a continuing need to build

new research clusters and refresh the boundaries of existing E&T R&E clusters.

Developing research excellence profile – there is a need to achieve more recognition for existing School R&E and to stimulate new, esp.large-scale, funding applications.

Capacity building strategies to review, e.g. Professors and Readers Appointments panel criteria, R&E Award’s criteria and inclusion of E&T specialists in R&E decision-making groups continues to be a priority, as, e.g., the School did not have any applicants eligible for University’s Early Career Research Awards. The profile of Education and other Social Sciences areas differs considerably from the physical sciences, notably re. age distribution, as reported in the ESRC’s (2006) Demographic Review of the UK Social Sciences.

There continue to be delays and problems, notably relating to workload issues, with financial payments to staff, as well as a continuing problem with the visibility/ reporting of research contracts and income to the School. However it has been agreed to call a meeting between University and School finance staff to address these issues.

Professor Liz West

Successes: Partners in Practice Day held on the 11th of July, attendees consisted of

representatives from NHS Trusts, PCT’s, and third sector organisations.

Official confirmation of grant south East Communities, published a book recently

Submission of a proposal to the National Health Institute Development of four KTP with one matched funding of £50K

Opportunities: Working on a expression of interest with business School for submission to the

SDO on PCT Commission on Social Care in the region of £450K Advertisement of the Business Development Manager (BDM) Post.

Challenges: Maintaining and sustaining the School’s current PhD programme.

Experienced supervisors are near to retirement and therefore limits the amount of research student places

Professor White: Business

Successes: Final bid to Leverhulme Trust on ‘Optimising the dual goals of microfinance – A

social network analysis and simulation’ has been submitted and a response is expected soon. PI Dr Anna Marr. Value: £197,190. Duration: 3 years. We are cautiously optimistic. We have recently heard that the result will be given in December.

Two training events and a networking event have been agreed with East London Business Place for businesses bidding for 2012 Olympics work. Value: £4,000. The first training event and networking event took place in August. The second training event will take place in October.

The Business School has hosted three successful conferences over the summer:

1) The Industrial Relations In Europe Conference.2) The International Social Networking Analysis conference.3) The Acas conference on Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Opportunities: Joint outline case joint bid with CMS for a study of ‘Innovative modelling and

multidisciplinary applications of supply chain dynamics’ has been submitted. PI Professor C H Lai (CMS). Business School staff are Dr L. Zhou and Dr Y. Xie. Value: £207,697. Duration: 2 years.

Joint bid with Apeejay Institute of Technology, India to the UKIERI research fund for UK/Indian collaborative ventures. ‘Dynamic economic analysis of closed loop manufacturing/remanufacturing supply chain’. PI: Dr Li Zhou. Value: £111,838. Duration: 2 years.

Joint Business School/Health and Social Care bid to NHS Strategic Delivery Organisation (SDO) in response for call for research on the NHS commissioning process. Bid to be submitted by mid-October.

Three bids submitted to the university SRF call. One of these is a joint Business/Humanities/Urban Renaissance Institute bid on the impact of the 2012 Olympics.

Discussions continue with LB of Greenwich concerning work to prepare for 2012 Olympics and spin-off for local businesses, workers and communities.

A Business School programme of income generating training workshops for SMEs is being launched in January 2009.

Robert Mayor met with the Institute of Business Consulting on 30 th September to discuss a joint international conference in September 2009.

Challenges:

The rate of bidding is improving but this is difficult for staff, given the weight of teaching and student numbers expected (Business School student numbers have improved yet again). There is, however, a renewed enthusiasm among staff and a layer of early career staff where research bidding is becoming more common. One problem for the Business School is the absence of staff at professorial level who could assist in leading such bids (there are now only three full-time Professors in the School, including the HoS). This is particularly an issue given the wide range of subject disciplines found within the school.

The addition of a BDM (albeit shared with two other schools) will be very welcomed. The three schools have already met to devise a joint research and enterprise strategy which identifies areas where there is sufficient synergy of interest to create clear fields for pursuit of funding and enterprise activity by the new BDM.

Professor Issac: Architecture and Construction

Successes: Recent research income: Now confirmed: EPSRC/Eon funding, Eon project -

Carbon Control and Comfort, £250,000 of £2.1m bid with Reading, Cardiff, UCL and Southampton. £98,000 funding, EPSRC, Sustainable Living for the Older Community. £31,000 Commercialise SE funding for the development of a prototype sensor. The £555,000 EPSRC CREW project on climate change has now commenced.

Examples of enterprise income from CPD include recent courses for the Landscape Institute (£14,000) and on the Brooking collection of architectural artefacts held by the School(£3,000). A knowledge transfer project with Lakesmere (a leading building envelope company) commenced with £10,000 initial funding in collaboration with the University of Salford.

Exhibitions and funding: Mark Ingham had a major exhibition in Southwark Park with funding of £5,000 from the Arts Council.

Medals and awards: Landscape architecture alumni won Gold, Silver and Silver Gilt medals for their gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show this year, following on last year's success of best garden in the show. Three Architecture students won awards in the Make Awards 2008 a prestigious competition organised by the architectural profession. Mark Titman won an RIBA design competition with student help entitled `Bat House’, had an exhibition of paintings entitled ‘Eco-Friendly’ at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery and organised a debate, exhibition and symposium at Greenwich.

Key lectures/publications: Alan Powers gave a key lecture at the International Conference of Architectural Museums in Oslo. Gillian Daniel produced an animation 'Seeing a Song' broadcast by Channel 4's 3 minute wonder on July 17. Tom Turner has produced 3 key eBooks which will have an immediate impact on landscape architecture education, these are entitled Indian Gardens, The Principles of Garden design and Historic Styles of Garden Design.

Staff presented key papers in three separate areas of research at the international conference of the ‘Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’, held in Dublin in September 2008.

The Urban Renaissance Institute has carried out a number of recent related to training and urban design, clients include SEEDA and CABE.

Opportunities: Recent meeting with government officials from Beijing and Vietnam have now

been followed with meetings with a major commercial company in China called Shanghai Xiandai Architectural Group and with further contact with government

officials in Hanoi. At a recent award ceremony in Kunming, China discussions have taken place with Yunnan University of Finance and Economics (ranked no. 2 in the province of Yunnan) to develop joint research in the Property and Construction sector. 5 members of staff are already visiting professors in the University.

On the enterprise front at home, opportunities exist for major CPD delivery and training from University College Folkestone following meetings with local professional practices.

Challenges: All staff including many research staff are heavily involved in teaching, assessment

and administration and this is a busy time for them. There has been a loss of staff but we hope a successful recruitment campaign will deal with this.

Dr Simon Richardson: Science

Successes: The School of Science hosted a very successful “Spotlight on Science” meeting

(July 23rd 2008) organised by Prof. John Mitchell, which was attended by members of the pharmaceutical industry and the University of Greenwich both from outside and inside the School of Science. The event also served as the launch for the second edition of the School’s “Guide to Research and Enterprise”, also available as a pdf file: (http://www.gre.ac.uk/schools/science/research) compiled by Mrs Bernadette Oakenfull.

The University of Greenwich also hosted the 2008 UK Polymer Colloids Forum (28th – 29thAugust 2008) at the Medway Campus. Included in the 2008 UK Polymer Colloids Forum organising committee were Dr Lisa Benee and Prof. Martin Snowden. This meeting was also a great success and showed the School of Science in a very good light on an international stage.

Since May 2008 the School has published collectively 7 papers in refereed journals. We have a target of 60 papers for the year. Analytical Testing Services (Nay-Aug Dr. David Wray) has raised £163k Medway Sciences (Dr. Benee & Profs Mitchell & Snowden) have raised £127k The Analytical Services Laboratory has raised £1164 The School of Science currently has 54 MPhil/PhD students registered

Opportunities: Grant applications have gone forward to the EPSRC from Prof. Nicholson and Dr.

Richardson and also from Dr. Spencer. Drs Spencer and Richardson have also submitted grant applications to the Royal Society. The second round of Drs Hills and Carey’s application to the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award scheme has been submitted. Dr. Spencer has also applied for a Royal Society of Chemistry award.

The School of Science is continuing to chair an informal Cross School Collaboration Meetings aimed at initiating collaborative research. The last meeting was well attended and future meetings are planned.

An interschool meeting jointly organised by Prof. Liz West and Dr Simon Richardson (and may also involve the Schools of Psychology and Education) is scheduled for Jan.

In order to encourage the submission of grants from the early stage career researchers at the School of Science, the very well attended “Master class”, describing successful grant writing strategies (presented by Profs. Leharne and Chowdhry) will be expanded upon and will be organised by Dr Richardson. Senior staff will be asked to talk to the early career researchers about transitioning ideas into grants and who to apply to. Prof. Snowden has also volunteered to initiate this

new venture by talking about academic career progression. Dr David Bailey has also kindly offered to give a talk detailing successful strategies for fund raising.

Dr Joshua Boateng has been charged with establishing an MPhil/PhD student lunchtime research seminar program. Attendance and participation will be compulsory for all none-Medway Science MPhil / PhD students. Medway Science Students are exempt as Prof. John Mitchell runs a very successful Medway Science graduate seminar programme. Participation by Medway Science students will be encouraged. Students will be required to present their research once per year and attendance will be monitored.

Challenges Many academic members of the school of Science are not research active.

Transitioning these people from a research inactive state to a research active state is going to be difficult and will be coordinated by the School of Science Research and Enterprise Committee with the help of the Head of School, the Directors of Research and Enterprise and the School Management Team.

A “can do” research culture needs to be adopted and implemented under the direction of the Head of School, assisted by the School Management Team and the School of Science Research and Enterprise Committee and will impact upon current issues such as: stores opening times and laboratory refuse collection.

Dr Steve Woodhead: Engineering

Successes: KTP with GSK awarded, value circa £100k over two years. Research Contract with Mars gmbh, Germany awarded, value circa £6k, opening

opportunities for further funded services. Additional EPSRC CASE studentship awarded in collaboration with BAe, value

circa £50k. Wolfson Centre has invoiced for £70k in the first two months of 2008-9. Wolfson Centre order book stands at £206k so far this year, including the above

point.

Opportunities: 2 submissions to the EPSRC by Prof P Rapajic and Prof J Gao. Discussions ongoing with two companies for development work contracts.

Challenges: Have lost £16k in EPSRC claw back because of late submission of a report by

finance. Several PhD students unfortunately did not receive bursary payments in August,

due to delays in Finance. Recruitment of BDM has been delayed by Personnel. The University’s telephone system has caused severe disruption to both staff and

external clients. Senior researchers are reaching their quota for the supervision of PhD students.

Prof Barnes conveyed his concerns as to the delay with the advertisement of the remaining BDM posts and recently contacted Personnel for an update on the situation. Personnel informed Prof Barnes that they are awaiting the return of information, from Head of Schools, in relation to where the posts are to be advertised. Drs Woodhead and Davies advised Prof Barnes that such information is required and submitted as part of the recruitment initiation process.

Action: Prof Barnes to liaise with Personnel as to the delay with the advertisement of the remaining BDM posts.

Prof Barnes informed the Committee that the University is currently undertaking investigations as to the upgrading of the telephone system and an intense cost analysis exercise is in progress.

Professor Bailey: CMS

Successes:Consultancy projects: FSEG (Prof E Galea) Mitsubishi Japan new regional jet aircraft evacuation design

(value to Greenwich (£20k) FSEG (Prof E Galea) Lloyds, evacuation analysis for large passenger ship (value

to Greenwich (£15k)TSB CMRG (Prof C Bailey): ENDVIEW Project on LCD displays awarded (value to

Greenwich £80k). Start date Dec 2008. Conference: CMRG (Prof C Bailey): ESTC-2008 Conference. (Value to Greenwich £136k).

With over 400 attendees has lead to number of leads for international collaboration and consultancy. One is invitation to provide short course at the International Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan which will take place this year.

Opportunities:KTP’s: FSEG, outline proposal has been accepted, currently finalising full proposal to be

submitted by 17 Oct. Project is with Locke Carey Ltd, a Dartford based fire engineering company (Prof E Galea).

CMRG, in discussion with MSE, a Beckenham based company who manufacture blood separation devices.

EU: FSEG (Prof E Galea) preparing two new proposals for submission by 4 Dec 2008. CMRG (Prof C Bailey) preparing EU proposal for Future Emerging Technologies

Call with Dresden, Chalmers and Helsinki Universities.EPSRC Joint NSF call for joint US/UK projects concerning human behaviour research.

FSEG in discussion with several US based organisations for joint bid concerned with egress of people with movement disabilities from health care facilities.

Joint call with AHRC: CMRG (Prof C Bailey) have submitted network proposal on Heritage Science submitted with Portsmouth and Southampton.

CMRG (Prof C Bailey): POWERCORE 2020 in collaboration with Nottingham Oxford, Manchester, Newcastle, CMRG are submitting a £6m Programme Grant proposal.

Collaborative KTA: CMRG (Prof Bailey) invited to be a participant with Lancatser, Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh Universities.

TSB

New call has a number of possible opportunities. For CMS a proposal is being discussed with Heriot-Watt and a number of companies on using Microwave technology for disassembly and hence recycling of electronic components.

Challenges:

No clear procedure on supporting visiting academics (per-diems, honorariums, accommodation, etc)

Difficult to attract high quality PhD students to Greenwich. Difficult to run short courses (lack of labs at suitable times of the year) Joint award of PhD’s between Greenwich and other institutions (i.e. Grenoble,

Hong Kong, Imperial College). No clear procedure.

Prof Bailey raised his concerns with the difficulties of attracting and retaining high calibre PhD students, especially for Industrial CASE awards, as the eligibility requires UK nationals. Members agreed this is a concern within other Schools. Professor Bailey also called for a clear financial procedure in relation to the reimbursement for visiting academics to the University, as the current procedure is ambiguous.

Action: Prof Barnes to convene a sub group consisting of Profs Bailey and West, Drs Woodhead, Richardson and Jameson to discuss strategies on how to attract and retain good quality PhD students.

Action: Prof Barnes to liaise with Finance to confirm the standardized policy for reimbursement to visiting academics.

08.5.5 RESEARCH STUDENTS

08.5.5.1 Confirmation of Recommendation of Examiners: PhD

Committee noted the confirmation of recommendations of Examiners.

08.5.5.2 Confirmation of Recommendation of Examiners: PhD/PhD by Published Work

Committee noted the confirmation of recommendations of Examiners by published work.

08.5.5.3 Minutes of Research Degree Committees08.5.5.3.1 MCRDC – 19th May 2008 08.5.5.3.2 CHRDC – 25th June 2008 08.5.5.3.3 BSRDC – 24th June 2008

Committee noted the minutes

Prof A Reed brought the Committee’s attention the first meeting of the University wide Research Degrees Committee to be held on the 2nd October, 2008 at the Greenwich Campus.

Prof Reed informed Ms Banton that MCRDC was held on the 19th May opposed to the 19th February, 2008.

Action: Ms Banton to record the 19th May as being the correct date of the MCRDC

08.5.6 ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

08.5.6.1 Technology Strategy Board: Collaborative Research and Development Competition: High Value Manufacturing – Step Changes and Value Systems

Prof Barnes notified the Committee this agenda item is duplication.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

08.5.7.1 Research Excellence Framework: Update

Prof Barnes reminded members of the agreed outcomes of the HEFCE consultation process earlier this year.

the assessment of STEM and non-STEM will be closely aligned the implementation of REF has been delayed to 2010 a mix of citation analysis and peer review for assessment

Prof Barnes read a published extract from a letter sent from Prof Eastwood, HEFCE to Mr Denham MP, which referred to the operation of a ‘single unified funding and assessment framework using variable internal geometry’.

HEFCE are currently undertaking a pilot exercise conducted with 22 HEI’s where data collection will take place between July to October 2008 and conclude during Spring 2009. This process will capture a moderate coverage of citation data, and covering publications in the period 1 Jan 2001 - 31 Dec 2007. A JISC initiative known as the Reoja Project, will test the robustness of the research citation and electronic databases, such as WoS or Scopus.

08.5.7.2 Capturing Research Outputs: Research Publication Repository

The Committee discussed the desirability developing an open research repository, holding all research publications and citation data from the University of Greenwich, using one of three options; EPrint, DSpace (open source software) or a hosted by an external organisation. Prof Barnes urged Committee members to support this initiative, as it would be the first phase towards supporting the University’s research portfolio, in addition preparing for the future data collection and verification processes which will be required for the Research Excellence Framework. The project would also provide academic colleagues with a means for easily generating data for CVs and funding proposals, in addition to providing a means for easily extracting data relevant to proposals for the provision of industrial research services and consulting.

Dr Davies added that GRE and ILS will be working with representatives from Schools in developing this project.

08.5.7.3 R&E Committee Annual Report for Academic Council

Prof Barnes presented to members a draft of the annual report containing activities of the Committee for 2007/08. Members were asked to provide comments to Ms Banton by Monday 6th October.

Action: All to send comments on the R&E Annual Report by Monday 6th October.

08.5.7.4 EPSRC, Knowledge Transfer Accounts

Prof Barnes informed the Committee about the Knowledge Transfer Accounts (KTA) call announced by the EPSRC. He reminded members that the University successfully gained an EPSRC Collaborative Training Account for the amount of £916,196 in May 2005, but that this account was due to run out on the 30th September 2010. Knowledge transfer activity in the account amounted to only £75,000. The KTA system differs significantly from CTAs in that the EPSRC has imposed a minimum of £2 million per bid and proposals will be assessed on the submission of a business case that clearly demonstrates the exploitation of previous EPSRC funding.

The EPSRC has indicated that £55 million is available, and approximately 15 awards will be made. Prof Barnes informed the Committee that members of the Million+ group had been contacted to seek potential interest in a collaborative bid for the group.

Prof Barnes sought ideas from members on the types of previous EPSRC activity that could contribute to a business case for KTA funding.

Action: Ms Banton to circulate the call sent to the Million+ members.Action: All to investigate potential ideas for KTA bid and send information to

Prof Barnes.

08.5.7.5 Million+ Evidence re research – QR Funding, Innovation for All the Nation Campaign

Prof Barnes presented to the Committee email correspondence from Million+ outlining a campaign to raise with Ministers and MP’s the distribution of QR funding on the behalf of its 28 members, the aim being the avoidance of further concentration of research funding in 2009, to achieve a very small redistribution to support the research infrastructure in business-facing HEIs such as Greenwich.

Action: Prof Barnes requested that members contact him by email with examples of research that have led to industrial benefit by the 10th

October.

08.5.7.6 Innovation and Growth Teams

Prof Reed described an initiative from SEEDA to develop ‘Innovation and Growth Teams’ to promote innovation in the South-East region. SEEDA will be aiming to fund eight Innovation and Growth Teams and the University aims to be a key player in a Kent bid. The University is working in collaboration with four other HEI’s and Business Support Kent to develop a bid for submission next year. Prof Reed highlighted that the proposal is of importance as current funding for the Medway Innovation Hub is drawing to an end. This opportunity would provide external funding to sustain the University’s business-facing work around Medway and generate

new links between business and academics, mediated through the hub and the School Business Development Managers.

08.5.7.7 Energy Watch

Prof White presented to the Committee a report compiled by Professor Steve Thomas, Business School that revealed how low income households are failed, not only in the energy market but across other essential services; food, housing, water, telecommunications, public transport, financial services as well as the energy sector.

08.5.7.8 Strategic Research Fund

Prof Barnes provided the Committee with an update on submissions to the Strategic Research Fund. 48 proposals were received which amounted to £1.2 million. Prof Barnes commended all applicants of this call as the quality of bids had significantly improved since the last Investment Programme call earlier this year. Prof Barnes informed members that he currently awaits feedback from the panel and expects to complete contracting by December, 2008.

08.5.7.9 FP7 EU Bidding Seminar

Prof Barnes urged the Committee to encourage academic members of their School to attend a seminar aimed toward European funding awards entitled ‘Winning FP7 Contracts, to be held at the University of London on the 8 th and 24th October. The purpose of both seminars will be to assist newcomers and more experienced participants in FP7 to find their way into the different aspects of EU funding of collaborative research. Dr Davies confirmed that GRE will refund the first ten claims consisting of a return fare to Swindon, in support for those attending the EPSRC Study Day event scheduled for the 21st October. Requests for reimbursement must include a completed claim form and travel receipt and must be sent directly to Ms Banton, GRE.

DATES FOR RESEARCH AND ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE (2008-2009)

Meeting Papers Received byWednesday 10th December 2008, 2.15pm, QA075, Greenwich 26th November 2008

Wednesday 14th January 2009, 2.15pm, S311, Avery Hill 7th January 2009

Wednesday 25th March 2009, 2.15pm QA075 Greenwich 11th March 2009

Wednesday 6th May 2009, 2.15 pm, B028 , Medway 22nd April 2009

Wednesday 24th June 2009, 2.15pm, S311, Avery Hill 10th June 2009