About us
Research & Enterprise (R&E) at the University of Glasgow provides a value-adding service by supporting research excellence and managing knowledge transfer activities. In performing these roles, R&E seeks to:
- support the University in maintaining and enhancing its research excellence
- maximise the University's income in support of research and enterprise activities
- manage the University's knowledge transfer agenda
- contribute to the development and delivery of the University's research strategy and policies.
R&E has defined a set of objectives to address and meet each of these strands, involving adding value, managing risk, and developing and delivering the University's strategies.
At a practical level, Research & Enterprise provides support for researchers, academic departments and faculties who are seeking a commercial or non-commercial interface with external sponsors, within the public and private sectors throughout the world.
R&E also provides the first point of contact for research funders and potential partners, including government, universities, non-profit organisations, and industry, who might wish to utilise or find out more about the University's research, technologies, and services.
In performing its primary roles of supporting the enhancement of the University's research excellence and knowledge transfer agenda, R&E seeks to enhance income generation from:
- funders of research grants and contracts
- the commercial exploitation of technology arising from its research programmes
- the establishment of self-funding units run along commercial lines.
R&E also has an outreach role in supporting the knowledge economy, particularly in Scotland, where University technologies and expertise may enhance the competitiveness of companies and Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).
Structure
R&E's organisational structure consists of broadly-based functional teams of Business Development, Grants and Contracts, Operations, and the Office of the Vice-Principal for Research and Enterprise. The latter is responsible for developing and promoting the University's research strategy. The Vice-Principal's Office also works with R&E to deliver the University's knowledge transfer programmes.
Members of the above teams are also involved in short-term, cross-functional, multi-disciplinary project teams. This flexibility is fundamentally necessary in performing the wide range of activities in which R&E is involved, both proactive and reactive. These include strategy and policy development, market and business development, risk management, development of processes to support research and the provision of professional research administration.
R&E teams
- Business development
- Grants and contracts
- Operations
- Office of the Vice-Principal for Research & Enterprise
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Business development
The Business Development Team within R&E is split into three teams which provide resource and support to the territories of Arts, Life Sciences & Medicine, and Physical Science & Engineering. There is also a web marketing team which provides support across the territorial teams as required.
The three teams work closely with the faculties to define priorities, develop funding proposals for research, and to increase the volume and value of research contracts, with a particular emphasis on industrial, international, and government funders. The teams also work with the faculties to identify areas where there are opportunities to develop links with companies which will generate funding benefits and enhance the University's reputation within the business community.
The aim of the Business Development team is to work with the research base to identify and deliver priorities which support the Research and Knowledge Transfer mission of the University.
Grants and contracts
The Grants Team within R&E provides specialist advice and assistance with: grant funding opportunities; costing; electronic applications; funding terms and conditions; and the authorisation of applications and awards for all of the various funding bodies, including research councils, government departments, charities, and other public and private non-commercial funders.
This includes liaising with funders and building and maintaining contacts at appropriate levels. The team also produces a regular electronic newsletter, Research News, containing strategic research opportunities, news and events of relevance or interest to the University's research community, and regular electronic notification of European research opportunities.
The Contracts Team provide similar support for contracts and tenders for the sale of research related activity subject to commercial conditions of contract. The Contracts Team also give specialist advice and assistance with research policy and compliance such as ethics and insurance, and provide contract pricing, costing, and legal reviews of funder terms and conditions of contract.
The team also includes a Costing Manager and an IP Manager who provide help and advice on cost accounting and the management of Intellectual Property (IP).
Operations
The Operations Team is responsible for supporting a range of systems and processes in support of Research at the University of Glasgow. They manage the University's Research System and provide system support, training, and data about Research applications and awards. This team is responsible for Departmental Administration for Research & Enterprise.
Office of the Vice-Principal for Research & Enterprise
The Vice-Principal's Office provides strategic direction and policy to ensure that the highest quality research is carried out within a well-supported, enabling research environment. It provides strategic direction to facilitate and encourage maximum research income, and identifies and supports key research-led strategic alliances.
The Vice-Principal's Office also has responsibility for strategy and policy relating to postgraduate research students. As a senior member of the University Management Group, the Vice-Principal for Research ensures that the University's strategies and policies are research-informed.
In addition, the Vice-Principal's Office plays a major role in raising the external profile of the University's research, and interacts regularly with major funding bodies and other key external organisations at a senior level.
