Moving towards a strategic research programme

Published On 04/12/2017

UKWIR Chief Executive, Hans Jensen, set the scene at UKWIR’s Autumn Advisory Group meeting by informing delegates about the gradual shift from commissioning individual projects that make up the core research programme towards supporting strategic research that is reflected in UKWIR’s ‘Big Question’ Programme. The Big Questions address longer term issues and are expected to comprise about two-thirds of expenditure by 2021/22, compared with about one third in the coming year.

The Big Questions are to have a Governance Group to oversee the delivery of the whole programme. There is a remit to take into account related research, generated both internally and externally.

Hans emphasised that advice from the UKWIR Board is to ‘shape, inform or contribute to future business planning, support and help answer UKWIR’s Big Questions while helping the industry to respond to existing or emerging regulatory issues’.

UKWIR has in the past carried out a small number of 'club projects' where an issue is not seen as common to all UKWIR members but is seen as a vital issue by a number of members. The UKWIR managed Chemical Investigation Project is a prime example of this way of working.

The Board supported this concept where it was agreed as having overall benefit to members. In such cases UKWIR will provide the project management support including the project steering group.

This may well apply to projects that scored well for the 2018/19 core research programme but just missed the ‘cut’ at the UKWIR Autumn Advisory Group meeting, that is discussed in more detail on page 2.

Hans informed delegates that the UKWIR website is being redesigned to be more ‘cutting edge’ and to help in setting out opportunities for joint funding of projects.