Innovation & Research Caucus
Lead Research Organisation:
Oxford Brookes University
Department Name: Oxford Brookes Business School
Abstract
The ambition of the Innovation and Research Caucus (I&RC) is to establish itself as the go to intermediary for actionable innovation and research funding policy insights. Building on the legacy of the current Innovation Caucus, a key focus of the I&RC will be to both champion and leverage social science research on the innovation and research system in the UK, and provide powerful actionable insights as to what works, where and why.
The I&RC model will provide a robust and actionable evidence base for the funders to identify the most effective funding and support interventions to strengthen the research and innovation landscape in the UK. With a focus on generating and curating high-quality evidence and insights to inform future strategy and delivery plans of UKRI, ESRC and Innovate UK, the I&RC will work collaboratively with the funders to identify and deliver against agreed priorities.
Our proposed approach will see Phase 1 work with the funders and key stakeholders to develop the work programme of the I&RC. Using a design thinking inspired approach the Co-Directors, Professors Vorley and Roper, will engage in consultation to ensure that the I&RC meets the needs of the funders, before developing and gaining feedback on the proposed model. The work programme will be subject to review across the duration of the I&RC, although retain sufficient agility to respond to funder requests within each period of the work programme.
To meet the requirements of the funders, Phase 2 of the I&RC model will be structured around a series of strategic and responsive projects to address short and medium-term priorities. All projects will be agreed in conjunction with the Operations and Investment Management Group, and have a light touch project initiation document specifying the project aim, deliverables and intended outcomes. This model has proved highly effective in the current Innovation Caucus - providing a means to manage the expectation of the funder and capacity of the core team to deliver high quality projects.
While projects will provide the organisational basis of the I&RC the model is structured around a series of core capabilities, designed to meet the current and future needs of the funders.
The I&RC model will provide a robust and actionable evidence base for the funders to identify the most effective funding and support interventions to strengthen the research and innovation landscape in the UK. With a focus on generating and curating high-quality evidence and insights to inform future strategy and delivery plans of UKRI, ESRC and Innovate UK, the I&RC will work collaboratively with the funders to identify and deliver against agreed priorities.
Our proposed approach will see Phase 1 work with the funders and key stakeholders to develop the work programme of the I&RC. Using a design thinking inspired approach the Co-Directors, Professors Vorley and Roper, will engage in consultation to ensure that the I&RC meets the needs of the funders, before developing and gaining feedback on the proposed model. The work programme will be subject to review across the duration of the I&RC, although retain sufficient agility to respond to funder requests within each period of the work programme.
To meet the requirements of the funders, Phase 2 of the I&RC model will be structured around a series of strategic and responsive projects to address short and medium-term priorities. All projects will be agreed in conjunction with the Operations and Investment Management Group, and have a light touch project initiation document specifying the project aim, deliverables and intended outcomes. This model has proved highly effective in the current Innovation Caucus - providing a means to manage the expectation of the funder and capacity of the core team to deliver high quality projects.
While projects will provide the organisational basis of the I&RC the model is structured around a series of core capabilities, designed to meet the current and future needs of the funders.
