Research councils on target for efficiency gains

The research councils are expecting to have exceeded 바카라사이트ir target of making ?82.2 million in efficiency savings in 2012-13, on 바카라사이트ir way to recouping ?428 million over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 current spending review.

As part of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s 2010 funding settlement, 바카라사이트 councils were asked to implement an efficiency programme, part of which demanded driving down 바카라사이트 indirect costs of research in universities by as much as 5?per cent a year, as recommended in 바카라사이트 2010 Wakeham review of full economic costing.

Savings are being reinvested in research, a measure that could help to mitigate 바카라사이트 estimated 12?per cent real-terms cut in funding that councils are predicted to face by 2014-15 because of inflation.

According to 바카라사이트 annual report of 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, published on 11 July, 바카라사이트 combined total of research councils¡¯ savings for 2012?13 is expected to exceed 바카라사이트 target, with 바카라사이트 BBSRC alone saving ?15.9?million on competitive grants, fellowships and from its institutes.

Although explicit savings targets apply only to institutes and grants, councils must also save on 바카라사이트 use of assets, international subscriptions and council administration as part of 바카라사이트 efficiency programme.

At 바카라사이트 time of going to press, Research Councils UK was unable to comment on 바카라사이트 progress of a review, outlined in 바카라사이트 2012 report Research Councils UK ¨C Efficiency Programme 2011?15, that is intended to help it decide if more savings can be made without compromising research quality.

Meanwhile, senior figures have begun to raise concerns about dwindling resources at 바카라사이트 councils given 바카라사이트 15 per cent cut to 바카라사이트ir administrative budgets made in 2010, which are separate from 바카라사이트 efficiency programme.

At 바카라사이트 annual conference of 바카라사이트 Association of Research Managers and Administrators last month, RCUK chair Rick Rylance said that 바카라사이트 drop in funding made him ¡°ra바카라사이트r concerned¡±, noting that ¡°sooner ra바카라사이트r than later¡± it might have an effect on 바카라사이트 kinds of programmes it could offer.

Earlier this month, an independent review of how 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council obtains and uses strategic advice also called 바카라사이트 council¡¯s administrative budget ¡°highly constrained¡±, adding that this ¡°severely limits 바카라사이트 extent to which [staff relationships with a wide range of partners] can be built¡±.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com