.
N8 Research Partnership Newsletter - September 2018

September 2018

Director's Update

As we move into the autumn, it brings to a close an exciting few months for the N8 Research Partnership. Our first ever advocates event in May was excellent - we generated a number of ideas and actions for moving forward at individual, network and university levels. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed their time, ideas and enthusiasm to help us take the N8 Research Partnership forward. 

Since the event we have:

• Shared the outputs with the Strategic Executive Group (PVC-Rs) and communications leads;
• Developed a “long-list” of broad research topics which could form the basis of future N8 collaborations, including ideas generated through the workshop and the survey;
• Obtained data from the universities regarding the existing collaborative grants between N8 partners;
• Collated this data and will use this to support decision-making in refining the long-list of topics towards a short-list which will form the basis of our research strategy.
• Developed a more transparent process for selecting research priorities and programmes which will allow the N8 portfolio to develop and for new ideas to be brought forward “bottom-up”. More information about this will follow when we have agreed this with the Board and SEG.

Our first network proposal, generated “bottom-up” as a result of this workshop, has been submitted to EPSRC and we wish the investigators every success with this. 

I’m sure those of you who came to the workshop will recognise that many of these activities came about as a direct result of ideas and suggestions made during the day; your input has absolutely made a difference to the direction of travel - we really couldn’t be doing this without you.

During the autumn I’m excited to say that we have a new colleague joining the N8 Directorate team; Steve Parkinson will join us as a Research Partnership Manager alongside Nick Goldspink.

Steve will take the lead on: N8 Policing Research Partnership, Capital Efficiency & HPC, Transport and AI and Data Science; while Nick will lead on N8 AgriFood, Energy (including Fusion) and portfolio and landscape analysis. I will continue to lead on health and the interface to the Northern Health Science Alliance. As the range of N8 activities develops, our roles will evolve to reflect our strategic priorities.

I will be spending time over the coming months at a number of national and regional events contributing to the debate on how the North of England’s world-class research and innovation can play a vital role in rebalancing the UK’s economy. I will also be embedding myself within Research Offices from time to time. I do hope to see many of you on my travels and catch up with your ideas and views about how best to work together to deliver the vision of the N8 Research Partnership.

Dr Annette Bramley

N8 director to showcase Northern research and innovation strengths on UK campaign

Dr Annette Bramley, director of the N8 Research Partnership, has highlighted how the North of England’s world-class research and innovation can play a vital role in rebalancing the UK’s economy, at the start of her nationwide campaign.

Find out More
Call for next round of IBioIC Collaborative Training Partnership

Call for next round of IBioIC Collaborative Training Partnership

There is still time for N8 universities’ staff to apply for the 2018 IBioIC Collaborative Training Partnership programme.

The 2018 call for applicants to enter this year’s IBioIC programme is underway, supporting industrially relevant PhD projects that bring biotechnology closer to industrialisation.

Find out More
N8 AgriFood to work with Argentina on non-GMO soya production

N8 AgriFood to work with Argentina on non-GMO soya production

One of the world leaders in the global supply of key commodities is stepping up efforts to meet demand for non-GM soya with assistance from agri-food experts in the north of England.

Find out more
Professor Edward Harcourt

N8 universities secure postgraduate funding through new Doctoral Training Partnerships

All eight universities within the N8 Research Partnership have secured a place among the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s second wave of Doctoral Training Partnerships.

Find out More
Dr Hakim Yadi

Northern partnerships reaffirm commitment to joint working in health innovation

Northern universities and NHS partners have reaffirmed their commitment to improving the health and wealth of communities across the North of England, driving innovation in health from basic research to products and services that improve the quality of life of the region’s 16m population.

Find out More
Study reveals challenges of policing cannabis possession

Study reveals challenges of policing cannabis possession

The study, funded by North Yorkshire Police and the N8 Policing Research Partnership, examined the enforcement of cannabis possession by the Force – which has the lowest crime rate in England but ranked 14th for drug offences in 2016.

Find out More
Defence and Security Accelerator competitions

Defence and Security Accelerator – Competitions

As a cross-Government organisation, DASA has been created by the Ministry of Defence to find innovative ideas and to rapidly bring them into use across defence and security.

Find out More
Catapult

Transport Systems Catapult Business Fellow Network programme – call for applicants

N8 University in business development and research and innovation roles are being invited to apply to join the Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) Business Fellow Network for Intelligent Mobility.

Find out More