In line with other research councils, STFC released its Delivery Plan for 2011 – 2015 [PDF] in late December 2010. These documents set out the research councils’ strategic priorities for the next four years – i.e. the anticipated duration of the current Coalition government – and in particular they outline how research councils will respond to the austerity measures laid out in last October’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

The STFC carried out a review of its activities in 2009 and made some significant cuts in at that time, including slashing funding for astronomy and physics research. This Delivery Plan must therefore be seen in the light of these measures. STFC commit to ” maintain resource spending on science projects and grants, limiting any programme reduction to 2% in recognition of  the contribution already made from these areas to past budget reductions” (p8).

Key messages from the Plan are as follows:

• Spending on research grants and studentships will be maintained over the plan period.

• Grant support will be transitioned from the current system of standard and rolling grants to a new “consolidated grant mechanism” providing support for up to four years. This will limit applications to one every three years per university department per subject area. This is estimated to reduce the number of proposals handled every three years from 600 to between 100 and 200.

• Demand management and concentration are key themes in STFC’s efficiency drive. Currently just six institutions receive half of STFC’s grant funding, while 80% goes to 16 institutions. This concentration is expected to continue although there are no explicit targets. Grants awarding panels have been briefed to favour grants for departments and research groups with “critical mass” (although this term is left undefined).

• A new “elite research” fellowship scheme will be introduced targeted at individuals with “future leadership potential” (p10). This, together with a new Studentship Enhancement Programme is aimed at nurturing early career researchers to become future leaders.

• STFC provide the UK research base with access to leading international large-scale facilities. The Research Councils together with the Wellcome Trust “are working together on a new model for funding their usage of these large facilities.  This model will match the funding Councils’ scientific priorities and requirements to the provision by STFC of appropriate facility access are working together on a new model for funding their usage of these large facilities.  This model will match the funding Councils’ scientific priorities and requirements to the provision by STFC of appropriate facility access” (p11).

• They will work with other research councils on some of the cross-council programmes to address grand challenges. In particular, STFC will contribute to:
  • Global uncertainties: security for all in a changing world
  • Living with environmental change
  • Ageing: lifelong health and well-being
  • Energy
  • Global Food Security