REIS Newsletter

This newsletter can be viewed online in English and Welsh

Welcome from the Director, Ceri Jones

Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter. REIS is now bedding down following a period of substantial operational change for the team. I’m delighted to see that the newly established College Hubs are fully operational, delivering professional services across both campuses.

Our environment continues to change at pace, as at the beginning of April the central REIS team relocated from Floor 7 of the Faraday Tower and the Digital Technium to the 2nd Floor of the Talbot Building. The move enables the co-location of central Research Development, Project Services, Commercial Services (including Swansea Innovations and EEN Wales) and the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (including ION Leadership).


	Click here to read the full story


	Funding

EU Membership: Some Muscle behind the Hustle

In a recent letter published in the Sunday Times, Swansea University’s Vice Chancellor joined 103 Heads of other UK Universities in ‘urging the Brtish public to consider the vital role the EU plays in supporting our world-class universities’ stating that our membership supports the UK’s position as a global leader in science, arts and innovation.

So why are the leaders of some of the world’s finest academic establishments speaking out in favour of the UK remaining in the EU? What exactly has the EU done directly for Swansea University? And how has this shaped the academic and economic landscape here in Wales? Where would we be without the EU, and what would Wales look like moving forward as part of a non-EU member state?

Report highlights superb effort from research community

A recent report looked at the value of proposals submitted and awards received by major sponsor group from 1st August 2015 to 29th February 2016.

The value of awards received so far this period is very encouraging standing at £27m, which has already outstripped the performance for the same period last year by £13m. The highest value comes from Europe with £9.8m of funding received, representing 36% of the total, followed by funding of £5.8m from RCUK, representing 21% of the total.


	Click here to read the full story


	Click here to read the full story

Professor Siwan Davies on ‘ERC Grant Success’

Click here to view a video interview with Professor Siwan Davies on her successful European Research Council (ERC) funding application, and the lessons she learned along the way.


	Click here to read the full story


	News

Professor of Entrepreneurship receives highest European Accolade

For the fifth year in a row, the world-renowned Sten K. Johnson Centre for Entrepreneurship based at Sweden’s Lund University has announced its prestigious European Entrepreneurship Education Award.

This year the Award, which recognises an individual or organisation that has contributed to the improvement of entrepreneurship education in Europe, was awarded to Professor Paul Hannon of Swansea University, UK.


	Click here to read the full story

Research Development Seminars Coming Up – applying for research funding

During May, June and July the Research Development team have a number of training and networking events planned to help you prepare for upcoming calls for funding. Of particular interest is the new Global Challenges Research Fund. This is a five year programme of £1.5 bn (to 2020) which is now part of the UK Science budget of around £5 bn per annum. The aim is to make research more internationally relevant and help developing countries. REIS will run a series of short workshops to share up-to-date information about the forthcoming call to facilitate sharing ideas around the global challenges that could form the basis of proposals.

All applications for external funding must be costed and approved on the University Award Management System (AMS) and if you missed the sessions that took place earlier in the year, there are refresher sessions coming up on how to use the system. Advice on AMS is also available from the team based in the Research Hubs. For further details contact researchcontracts@swansea.ac.uk


	Impact

Pathways to Impact toolkit

For all you need to know about pathways to impact, please click here to download the toolkit

Meet the Impact & Engagement Officers

The Impact and Engagement Officers (based in the Research Hubs) are there to help you. With a wealth of knowledge and experience of working in collaboration with external stakeholders, the team can help strengthen and support your interaction with external partners from the public sector, industry and government bodies, building strategic partnerships to help drive your research development that delivers significant social and economic impact.

Please contact your local hub to find out more.

Research Excellence Framework (REF)

REF was the first exercise to assess the impact of research outside of academia. Impact was defined as ‘an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia’. A new interactive map tool demonstrating the national and international reach of REF2014 impact case studies has been created. Read more


	Click here for full story

Need help with Public Engagement?

Members of the Swansea University Public Engagement Forum-PEP Talk are here to help. With a broad range of experience in public engagement, the team can provide insight and input from across a diverse range of disciplines and sectors, including private, public and third sector engagement and aligning public engagement to impact in research.

PEP Talk has supported Famelab, Cheltenham Science Festival, Greenman Festival, Being Human Festival and the upcoming British Science Festival.

Impact Acceleration Account (EPSRC)

60,000 of funding was allocated to support secondments, pilot phase ideas and also well-developed initiatives in health, energy, manufacturing, computer science, technical development, and associated STEM subject areas. The closing date of the call was 8th January and we received 54 applications from across the university.

In collaboration with the SURGE fund, we supported 30 high impact projects from across the university. You can find the full list here.


	Click here to read the full story


	Case Study

Swansea University technology acquired by Haydale Graphene Industries plc

Haydale Graphene Industries plc (AIM: HAYD), the Group focused on enabling technology for the commercialisation of graphene and other nano materials, recently announced it is exercising its rights under its existing pipeline agreement with Swansea University and Swansea Innovation Limited (together “Swansea”) (the “Pipeline Agreement”) to acquire a new invention (the “new invention”).


	Click here to read the full story

REIS Seminar Programme

REIS host a range of timely, relevant and informative seminars to support staff and researchers at Swansea University, and collaborate on a wide range of events with internal and external partners. To provide feedback on additional seminars that would be of value to you, please contact 01792 606060 or email: reis@swansea.ac.uk

To view the full REIS Seminar programme, please click here

Further Information

To provide feedback on the newsletter and to discuss how we can support your activities, please visit our website or contact us on 01792 606060.

Tel: 01792 606060
Email: reis@swansea.ac.uk

Unfortunately, as this email has been sent out via the all-staff forwarder, we have have no control over the individual addresses supplied. However, if you wish us to record your unsubscribe request for the future, please email us.