Committee and Council Members induction By Mike Bright, Head of International Strategy

1. ESRC International Strategy
Mr Mike Bright, Head of International Strategy

2. Content
▶ Overview of ESRC International Strategy and
Activities
▶ What’s on the international agenda?
▶ Role of the Committees

3. Why should the ESRC engage
internationally?
▶ Science transcends national borders
▶ Many social and economic problems transcend national
borders e.g. climate change, global economic crisis,
security, population change
▶ Requires global research effort - UK has world-leading
expertise (#1 or #2 in most social science disciplines)
▶ Aim for UK as partner of choice for potential collaborators
(Government Science and Innovation Framework 2004-
2014)
▶ Increasing importance of emerging science nations
(China, India, Brazil, South Africa)
▶ New technologies facilitate international collaboration
▶ Maximise the impact of our research

4. ESRC International Strategy
▶ Enable the best researchers to work together regardless of
international borders by identifying and removing barriers and
by increasing research capacity
▶ Encourage UK social scientists to engage with international
funding opportunities
▶ Embed international perspectives in all ESRC major research
priorities and activities from and an early stage
▶ Equip researchers with the necessary skills, methods, data
and resources needed to collaborate internationally or
undertake international comparative work
▶ Engage and work with international agencies, other national
agencies, our RCUK and other UK partners where this can
bring benefits to the UK social science community
▶ Evaluate and benchmark the quality of UK social science
internationally

5. International Activities
▶ Partnership Building
– Overseas Institutional Visits for ESRC Studentships
– New International PhD Partnering Initiative
– Future Research Leaders Scheme
– Research Seminars
– International Partnership and Networking Scheme
– Indian/ European Research Networking Scheme
▶ Responsive Support
– International Co-Investigators Policy
– Lead Agency Agreements (Brazil/ Hong Kong/ Austria)
– Open Research Area

6. International Activities - Cont
▶ Strategic Initiatives
– Rising Powers and Independent Futures
– ESRC/ Hewlett and Reproductive Health
– ESRC/ DFID Poverty Alleviation
– Ecosystems for Poverty Alleviation
– ESRC/ DFID Growth
▶ Joint Initiatives
– Health Disparities/ Inequalities (NIH)
– Ecology of Infectious Diseases (NSF/NIH/ BBSRC/ ESRC)
▶ Multinational Partnerships
– NORFACE Religion and Migration Programmes
– Co-Reach (Sino/ Europe) Research Networking
– ERA-AGE Active and Healthy Ageing Across the Life Course
– New NORFACE Programme on Future Welfare States
▶ Promoting Other Sources
– Framework Programme 7 & European Research Council Grants

7. International Activities - Cont
▶ International Resources and Infrastructure
– Strategic Forums:
▪ OECD Global Science Forum Initiative on Data and Research Infrastructure
▪ European Strategic Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)
▪ International Forum for Resources and Infrastructures in the Social
Sciences (IFRISS)
– European Social Survey (ESS)
– ESDS International
– Consortium of European Social Science Data Archives
(CESSDA)
– Pathfinders Initiative – Brazil, China, India and South Africa
– Digging Into Data Initiative (US, Canada, UK, the
Netherlands)

8. Embedding International

9. Embedding International
▶ PhDs – overseas institutional visits, LBAS, Library of Congress, PhD
Partnering
▶ Future Research Leaders Scheme – promoting international mobility
▶ Knowledge Exchange/ Follow on Fund – promoting impact on policy
and practice nationally and internationally
▶ Secondary Data Analysis Initiative – promoting international
collaboration and comparison
▶ Professorial Fellowships – leading social scientists working in the UK
▶ Research Seminars – additional support for international
participants/events
▶ Research Grants – International Co-Investigator Policy, Lead Agency
Agreements and Open Research Area
▶ Large Grants and Centre Competition –International Co-Investigator
Policy
▶ Data Sets and Data Services – ESDS International, ESS, ISSP,
Pathfinders Initiative (Brazil, India, China, SA)

10. What’s on the international
agenda?
▶ Development of RCUK International Framework
▶ Horizon 2020 (FP8)
▶ Implementation of the European Research Area
▶ Development of the Open Research Area (US NSF
involvement from Round 3)
▶ With European Partners extend our collaborative
activity with China and India
▶ Strengthen links with North America (reciprocal lead
agency with NSF)
▶ Increase promotion of International Co-Investigators
– seek reciprocal agreements

11. What’s on the international
agenda?
▶ Commission new transnational programme on
Welfare State Futures with NORFACE partners
▶ Strengthen international visibility and impact of
major investments – Research Centres/
Professorial Fellowships
▶ Develop our partnerships with DFID
▶ Work to achieve European Research
Infrastructure Consortium status for the
European Social Survey
▶ Increase engagement with TSB and UKTI
internationally

12. Horizon 2020
▶ Next EU research and innovation programme 2014-2020
▶ Proposed budget of €80 billion
▶ Three pillars:
– Excellence Science
– Industrial Leadership
– Societal Challenges
▶ Societal Challenges could receive 41% of budget
▶ Social Sciences and Humanities shall be integral part of
activities to address all Challenges
▶ Increased emphasis on:
– International/ Developing Country Co-operation
– Interdisciplinary Research
– Co-Investment

13. Horizon 2020 - Societal Challenges
▶ Health, demographic change and well-being
▶ European Bioeconomy Challenges: Food security,
sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and
maritime and inland water research
▶ Secure, clean and efficient energy
▶ Smart, green and integrated transport
▶ Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials
▶ Europe in a changing world – inclusive, innovative
and reflective societies
▶ Secure societies, Protecting freedom and security of
Europe and its citizens

14. European Research Area
▶ Launched in 2000 - Aim of strengthening Europe’s
scientific and technological bases through greater
multi-national cooperation
▶ ERA Communication, July 2012. Five key priorities
for realisation by 2014:
– More effective national research systems
– Optimal transnational co-operation and competition
– An open labour market for researchers
– Gender equality and gender mainstreaming in research
– Optimal circulation and transfer of scientific knowledge
▶ Science Europe Statement

15. Embedding International – The Role of
the Committees
Methods and To take a leading role in developments
Infrastructure aimed at enhancing research
Committee infrastructure internationally.
Research To take a leading role in international
Committee research policy and developments and
support international collaborative
research.
Training and To support capacity-building to
Skills undertake international research,
Committee through schemes such as international
people exchange and networks.

16. ESRC’s Contacts
▶ Speaker:
– Mr Michael Bright, Head of International Strategy
michael.bright@esrc.ac.uk
▶ ESRC website
– www.esrc.ac.uk