Research is a key activity within the Faculty. In 2008, the first year of the Faculty Plan for Research and Enterprise 2008-2012, the Faculty of Sciences was awarded research income of just over £8.5M, 56% of the total research income for the University.

Two years later, in the period January to December 2010, Research income for the Faculty had increased by over 35% to just over £11.5M. The largest individual award was to Professor Adrian Podoleanu in the School of Physical Sciences who received just under €2M from the European Commission via European Research Council Executive Agency. Over £3M was awarded by the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) and the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council). Enterprise activities generated over £1.2M

Faculty Plan for Research & Enterprise 2008-2012

Our intention has been to build our Faculty R&E activity to equal the ’94 group averages by 2015 by doubling our Research income from 7M in 2007 to 14M. This requires a sustained 10% p.a. increase during this period in addition to winning some large-scale, interdisciplinary applications. This is being achieved by developing a strategy to increase the quality and volume of research and enterprise within the Faculty.

Our strategy includes:

• developing and joining larger research partnerships;
• introducing a target-and incentive-based scheme to increase R&E activity in the Faculty;
• exploring a more targeted use of the Faculty QR provision;
• seeking a wider range of research funding opportunities through a dedicated Faculty Funding Officer;
• strategic use of Faculty research funds via the Strategic Research Fund;
• forming stronger partnerships with the regional NHS in securing NHS R&D funding;
• co-ordinating Faculty wide large scale applications via a small committee such that we submit at least one major cross-Faculty bid per year (this generated over £1.6M in Research income between January and December 2010).

The research activities of the Faculty are described within the webpages on the constituent Schools or Centres and can be accessed by clicking on the buttons on the right.

Contact: Joanna Walpole j.l.walpole@kent.ac.uk