FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR FUNDING STRATEGIC RESEARCH ACTIVITY OF POTENTIAL NATIONAL ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
Background
Some large-scale projects that span strategic and applied research also span the responsibilities of the Enterprise Networks and the Scottish Funding Council. Some projects have aspects that do not fit well within existing funding mechanisms. As there is no formal decision-making process between the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise there have been adverse delays to decision-making and funding of such projects. The Scottish Executive therefore committed to reviewing this area in partnership with the Enterprise Networks and the Scottish Funding Council. In October 2005, the Scottish Executive convened a steering group to oversee the development of a framework agreement with representatives from the Scottish Executive, SEn, HIE and the SFC.
Developing the Agreement
The development of this agreement was informed by a combination of research on practice elsewhere, consultation with key stakeholders in Scotland, and detailed input from SFC, SEn and HIE to ensure that the agreement would be both workable and helpful.
The Framework Agreement
The Framework Agreement is intended to enable rapid consideration of any emerging proposal, thus increasing the likelihood of Scotland being successful in securing strategically significant work. It establishes a Strategic Research Advisory Group, consisting of senior representatives of the three signatory bodies to the Agreement - SEn, HIE and SFC - and the Chief Scientific Adviser for Scotland. ( Annex A of the Agreement provides the three current representatives.) The three signatories have a gatekeeper role, ensuring that only appropriate proposals are brought to the Group. The Agreement aims to facilitate speedy decision-making on whether a project may be worth pursuing, but in no way replaces the existing appraisal, approval and prioritisation mechanisms within each body.
The operation of the Agreement will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it is adding value to the decision-making process: any substantive changes proposed will be subject to agreement by the three signatories to the Agreement.
In April 2007, the Agreement was reviewed and minor amendments made to it to reflect the position of the Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser as secretariat to the Agreement, and some changes made to the way in which the chair of SRAG is selected
Meetings of SRAG
Meetings of SRAG will be arranged ad hoc. Where the lead institution considers that a project may fall within the terms of SRAG, the institution should in every instance discuss the project with a member of SRAG to determine the best way forward.