OVERVIEW

A significant £158m e-infrastructure investment was announced by the Science Minister in December to enable growth and innovation for the UK's science and business sectors. The aim is for researchers and businesses to have access to improved technology systems to increase data storage capacity, develop advanced data sharing methods and deliver faster networks. Added to this multimillion pound investment is the already substantial UK research spend. The total budget allocation for the seven UK Research Councils over the 2011/12 to 2014/15 spending review period is in the region of £11.2bn. The yearly budget for science spending in the UK is £4.6bn. The UK has the fifth highest concentration of the world's top 1,000 international companies for R&D expenditure. The private sector spend around £15.8bn a year on R&D, whereas higher education accounts for around £6.8bn a year. R&D undertaken in the UK that is funded by overseas sources reached more than £3.4bn in 2009. Added to this is the European Research Council's budget, which per annum is some €2bn. What can UK research be doing differently to gain more value out of investments, partnerships and eventual outcomes?

Research networks are the lifeblood of innovation. It is not just about connecting people, but about creating the right environments and the right support that can help to boost creative knowledge transfer. Key to any system is having ease of access to the skills, facilities and finances required to deliver innovative products, services and ideas. How important is it to have a strong understanding of market conditions and commercialisation routes? How can networks gain an advantage when leveraging for funding and investment? What skills are required to lead and manage a project more effectively?

It is crucial that higher education and research institutions can be linked together with the relevant business sectors to help boost innovation and economic growth. Excellence in innovation is achieved through a multitude of disciplines and sectors, from basic research to product design, from engineering skills to entrepreneurship. Collaborating at the right stage of development can make all the difference to the success of a research project.

Join us at Research Networks: Underpinning Discovery, Supporting Knowledge Transfer to hear our high-profile programme of expert speakers discuss how to get more value out of research. Delegates will have the opportunity to learn from some of the leading research projects, institutions and networks in the UK and across Europe.