British Council Science Dr Claire Mc Nulty Director

British Council Science Dr Claire Mc. Nulty Director of Science Aston University, 27 th Jan 2014

British Council work • We are the UK’s international cultural relations organisation, and have been working for 80 years to forge links between people in the UK and other countries • Our main purpose is to build engagement and trust through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide • We have 218 offices in 109 countries around the world

Charitable purposes Our Royal Charter sets out the purposes for which we are established. These are to: • promote cultural relationships and the understanding of different cultures between people and peoples of the United Kingdom and other countries; • promote a wider knowledge of the United Kingdom; • develop a wider knowledge of the English language; • encourage cultural, scientific, technological and other educational cooperation between the United Kingdom and other countries; or • otherwise promote the advancement of education

UK Science is world-leading • Science is a strong UK asset • No. 1 ranking in the G 8 (just overtaken the US) in one measure of quality of research (Field. Weighted Citation Impact) • UK has just 0. 9% of world population but produces 16% of most highly cited papers BIS International Comparative performance of the UK Research base, 2013

UK research is international • Approx 40% of researchers in the UK are non. UK nationals • 48% of UK articles in 2012 resulted from an international collaboration • Internationally collaborative research is more highly cited The Researchers Report, Deloitte 2012, BIS International Comparative performance of the UK Research base, 2013, The Shape of Things to Come, British Council 2012

Researchers benefit from mobility • Only 28% of UK researchers have not published in another country between 1996 -2012 • Mobile researchers were shown to be more productive on average • ‘Partnership networks are forged early in a researchers career’ • ‘Finding the right partner is critical’ • Online tools are very useful but personal contact is still important for cementing relationships From: International Comparative Performance of the UK Research Base, BIS, 2013

Value of international collaboration Virtuous Circle Attract talented students and researchers Strong research base Production of high quality research Increased international collaboration

Do we need to adapt our international outlook? • Patterns of mobility still driven by familiarity (Nature Survey: 80% of UK researchers who go abroad, go to US, Canada and Australia) • Culture, language, and academic freedom barriers – 59% of researchers surveyed thought that China would have the most scientific impact in 2020, but only 8% would consider moving there – Similar for India – 29% and 9% respectively Van Noorden, Nature, 490, 326 -329; Franzoni et al, Nature Biotech 30(12): 1250 -3

Rising publications from OIC countries • Atlas of Islamic world science and innovation From: Atlas of Islamic World Science and Innovation

What do researchers need to broaden horizons? • • Information Funding Practical Support Skills

Information • Mapping studies – Shape of things to come series – Atlas of Islamic World Science and Innovation • Going Global – International Higher Education Conference – Miami, April 2014 • Bilateral or Regional policy Dialogues – Eg. East Asia Policy Dialogue series. Including ‘Co. Innovation for Social and Economic Growth, Thailand, February 2014.

Funding opportunities • Global, multilateral, and bilateral initiatives • Focus on initial links and partnership building • Opportunities for individuals, research groups, and institutions

Researcher Links • Focus on early career researchers, with input from more senior researchers • Thematic workshops and travel grants • Open call; selection on the basis of mutual benefit, research quality and potential for sustained interaction • Encourage interdisciplinary interactions and inclusion of social sciences and arts and humanities researchers

Which target countries? 2013/14 • Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, • Morocco, Egypt, Qatar, • South Africa, Nigeria, • Russia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan • Pakistan, Bangladesh • Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam, • US (travel grants only) Workshops: 400 applications; 49 selected Aston had two successful workshop proposals: Travel Grants: 380 applications; selection Jan 2014 Russia and Vietnam New calls coming out in Spring and Autumn 2014

BIRAX Regenerative Medicine Initiative • In partnership with FCO • Five-year programme • Funding for teams in UK and Israel to carry out joint research (First call: maximum funding £ 400, 000 over 3 years) • Second call to be announced on 25 -26 th March 2014 at BIRAX Conference (free accommodation and registration) • Funding for short term fellowships, to or from Israel (1 -6 months). Open for applications now. • www. britishcouncil. org. il/en/programmes/science/birax Supported by Pears Foundation, UJIA, BIS, FCO, Ministry of Science and Technology (Israel)

Global Innovation Initiative • Trilateral UK/US/third country partnerships (India, Brazil, Indonesia, China) • £ 150 k grant for networking and mobility • Themes: – Energy, environment and climate change – Agriculture, food security and water – Global health and wellbeing – Urbanisation • Call now closed but potential for new call in 2014

Other Research Opportunities • UK-China partnerships in education • UKIERI (India) • Exploratory grants (e. g Turkey, Ukraine, Hong Kong) – small amounts of funding to initiate partnerships • All opportunities advertised through HE Digest and Euraxess newsletters

Euraxess – practical support for mobile researchers Practical support • EURAXESS – support for mobile researchers in 40 European countries • Euraxess Links in USA, China, Japan, Singapore (for ASEAN) , India, and Brazil • Promotes rights for researchers HR Excellence in Research recognition

Information on Research landscape in UK, practical info, jobs, careers, funding Downloadable guide for researchers and can order hard copy online International funding search – by career stage, discipline and region

Science Engagement • Thailand National Science and Technology Fair • Inspiring young people to take up science • Universities of Bristol and Durham exhibited Café Scientifique

Fame. Lab • International Science Communication competition • 20 countries, millions of viewers • Longer term impacts – Science Festivals, TV shows etc

British Council Online Resources British Council Science www. britishcouncil. org/science Information on all our science and research initiatives British Council Higher Education http: //www. britishcouncil. org/education/ihe News and opportunities for the HE sector EURAXESS-UK www. euraxess. org. uk Practical support for international researchers moving to the UK. Sign up for the newsletter to get up to date news and opportunities CUBED www. britishcouncil. org/science-cubed. htm Magazine highlighting UK breakthroughs in science and innovation European RTD Insight http: //www. ukro. ac. uk/rtd We sponsor this monthly online publication which provides the latest news on European Union policy; research; education, training and culture; external collaboration; events and awards; new publications and online resources

Any Questions?