7. WHAT WILL WE DO? Large Scale, User Driven Multidisciplinary Research Hubs PEOPLE Up to 5 Doctoral Training Centres User and Cross Discipline Focus Fellowship Signposting Engagement with ‘New Industries ’ Underpinning Research Signposting Through Responsive Mode Pump Priming Activity £53M £25M £25M Healthcare Transport Creative Industries
Editor's Notes
Why the digital economy now? Advances from ICT and the impact it can have are a major contributor to national economies and wealth – ITS IMPORTANT The industry has changed – the ict industry is no longer just about producing technology, 20% of r&d is about research 80% is about how it is applied, previous ict companies have moved up the supply chain – eg. Ibm, but also other sectors are now investing significant amounts into r&d in ict A world bank report stated – “early adoption of ict tools supported by research capacity and skilled people better positions a country to reap the economic and social benefits of those tools” The international review of ICT identified the world class research community that we have in the UK, but also the fact that in order to fully realise its benefits we need people that understand business, societal and economic drivers.
The Digital Economy is about understanding and enabling the transformational effect that ICT can have on business, society or Government. ICT used to be something that was bolted onto an existing part of the business to help deliver it, now it changes the way business operates. Funds user driven research around the processes , mechanisms and facilities for capture and manipulation of knowledge focussing on understanding: Why – what are the user drivers; for whom – understanding how people will interact with that technology and use the information; and understanding what the effects of that technology might be. The key aim of the Digital Economy is to create a new cohort of researchers who have a core understanding of the technology, but who also understand user needs and are able to engage in multidisciplinary research to consider the user needs and socio –economic impacts of that research.
The key to sharing information on the digital economy will be providing some good examples of research in this space. Its about understanding he impact of the research, but from a user perspective – everything must eminate from why this is needed
IN DECEMBER THERE WAS AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF RESEARCH IN THE ICT AREA, THIS IS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM THE PANELS REPORT.
The Digital Economy builds on a sound basic research base in ICT, highlighted by the international review as being world class. Additionally, the review of the IT centric IRCs has identified a significant benefit of user driven research in the ICT space, in particular through the change in approach of researchers engaged with the IRCs, they have been able to build engagement, both with other disciplines and industry/other users. This has led to a shift in position of that community and their ability to respond to engagement and think in a different way. Related to this is the investment in the complexity programme which will make a significant contribution in this space. 2 DTCS, £2.5m Fundamental tools and techniques fund through responsive mode. Summer schools user driven challenges energy and large projects and clusters. We wish to build on these investments, combined with the investment in related areas, both in EPSRC, but also from our Sister research councils, which will contribute significantly in this area to grow a new community of researchers who can ensure the UKs ability to respond rapidly to new opportunities in the Digital Economy.
FOCUSING ON RESEARCH CHALLENGES FROM THE REAL WORLD IS THE KEY ELEMENT OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY IN ORDER TO DO THIS WE WILL NEED TO ENGAGE INDUSTRIAL SECTORS AND OTHER USERS – INCLUDING OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. WE WILL BUILD ON WORK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY UNDERTAKEN IN EPSRC BY ESTABLISHING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH KEY COMPANIES – FOR BOTH OF THESE THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE OTHER RESEARCH COUNCILS IS VITAL. WE WILL THEN USE THESE RESEARCH CHALLENGES TO BUILD MULTIDISCIPLINARY CONSORTIA, BUT THIS CAN’T JUST BE DONE WITH A CALL FOR PROPOSALS, THEY WILL HAVE TO BE DEVELOPED IN DIALOGUE WITH USERS AND OTHER FUNDERS. FINALLY, PEOPLE ARE KEY AND WE WILL ESTABLISH DOCTORAL TRAINING TO PRODUCE PEOPLE WITH A STRONG ICT GROUNDING, BUT AN UNDERSTANDING OF USER FOCUS AND ENGAGEMENT.
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