EPSRC redefines `simpler' engineering sectors
15 Jan 2000
The blurring of boundaries between different engineering disciplines has led to a rethink of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's definitions. The council plans to replace the nine current groups with just three, which it believes will be easier to understand.
Currently, the engineering research categories tend to overlap, or have obscure titles. The split into electrical, mechanical, and process engineering, the built environment, design and integrated production, marine technology, clean technology, control and instrumentation, and the innovative manufacturing initiative occurred for historical reasons which are no longer valid, explained EPSRC chief executive Richard Brook at the council's recent annual conference. `They do not allow engineering to present its best case for funding,' he commented.
The new categories will be much simpler: core engineering, comprising the three main disciplines taught at universities; engineering for manufacturing; and engineering for the infrastructure. The EPSRC believes this will make it easier for the review panels to judge the relative merits of proposals.
EPSRC is also to go ahead with plans to set up `Faraday centres' to encourage cooperation between university departments and small-to-medium sized businesses. However, the scheme will be going ahead without the planned funding from the Department of Trade and Industry.
The centres will be `intermediate' research organisations outside the main research councils, which can demonstrate good links with smaller companies. Private sector research organisations and groups of universities and companies, for example, have been invited to submit proposals for grants. Initially, four applicants will receive funding of some £1million over three years, with the fruits of the research to be communicated to small firms. EPSRC expects to select the winning proposals in the spring.
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