Strategic University Research - Opportunities and Challenges Bill Appelbe CEO and Chief Scientist VPAC Nov 26 th 2008

Outline How is the “research landscape” changing What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not What are other Universities doing? What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers Where to from here

How is the “research landscape” changing

What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not

What are other Universities doing?

What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers

Where to from here

The Changing Research Landscape - the “old” Traditional research: Individual small research groups, little “planning” Reward and promotion for individual contribution and specialization Grants based on peer review - to individuals and small groups (ARC, NHMRC) Little oversight once grant awarded, e.g., CRC’s IT just a tool, e.g., for preparation of papers or data analysis Limited specialization or differentiation across Universities - Any institution could hire a “prima donna” in a new specialist area

Traditional research:

Individual small research groups, little “planning”

Reward and promotion for individual contribution and specialization

Grants based on peer review - to individuals and small groups (ARC, NHMRC)

Little oversight once grant awarded, e.g., CRC’s

IT just a tool, e.g., for preparation of papers or data analysis

Limited specialization or differentiation across Universities -

Any institution could hire a “prima donna” in a new specialist area

The Changing Research Landscape - the “new” eResearch or the “systems” approach to research: Large collaborative, multidisciplinary, distributed research groups Reward and promotion based on contribution to the group’s success Grants to national consortia based on national community consensus (NCRIS - PfC, AuSCOPE, ABIN) Ongoing oversight, approval of annual budget/business plans IT a strategic tool An enabler for collaboration, modeling, workflow Specialization and differentiation across Universities - No institution can afford to try to be national leaders in everything!

eResearch or the “systems” approach to research:

Large collaborative, multidisciplinary, distributed research groups

Reward and promotion based on contribution to the group’s success

Grants to national consortia based on national community consensus (NCRIS - PfC, AuSCOPE, ABIN)

Ongoing oversight, approval of annual budget/business plans

IT a strategic tool

An enabler for collaboration, modeling, workflow

Specialization and differentiation across Universities -

No institution can afford to try to be national leaders in everything!

Outline How is the “research landscape” changing What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not What are other Universities doing? What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers Where to from here

How is the “research landscape” changing

What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not

What are other Universities doing?

What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers

Where to from here

What succeeds… Examples of success : Deakin’s engineering group led by Peter Hodgson There are several key factors to success Collaboration - state and national Critical mass - 10 to a 100 co-workers Leadership, focus, and vision Resources - what does the group have that would motivate others to collaborate or join? Might be specialist hardware, software, or expertise Absent any one of these, “success” is unlikely Measured by sustainability, growth, national funding

Examples of success :

Deakin’s engineering group led by Peter Hodgson

There are several key factors to success

Collaboration - state and national

Critical mass - 10 to a 100 co-workers

Leadership, focus, and vision

Resources - what does the group have that would motivate others to collaborate or join?

Might be specialist hardware, software, or expertise

Absent any one of these, “success” is unlikely

Measured by sustainability, growth, national funding

Outline How is the “research landscape” changing What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not What are other Universities doing? What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers Where to from here

How is the “research landscape” changing

What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not

What are other Universities doing?

What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers

Where to from here

What are other Universities Doing? Establish university-wide “buy-in” for strategic / eResearch Driven by DVCR’s office, often through a process of a leadership committee cross-institutional Outcome often a “eResearch” director/office Monash, Melbourne, La Trobe… Larger universities have an advantage More “resources” to commit

Establish university-wide “buy-in” for strategic / eResearch

Driven by DVCR’s office, often through a process of a leadership committee cross-institutional

Outcome often a “eResearch” director/office

Monash, Melbourne, La Trobe…

Larger universities have an advantage

More “resources” to commit

What are other Universities Doing? (cont.) Establish research priorities and key collaborations, building on existing strengths Monash: modelling… CSIRO Melbourne: life sciences… “research partner” by tender La Trobe: bioinformatics… (DPI/BRC)

Establish research priorities and key collaborations, building on existing strengths

Monash: modelling… CSIRO

Melbourne: life sciences… “research partner” by tender

La Trobe: bioinformatics… (DPI/BRC)

What are other Universities Doing? Build and strengthen national centres with national and/or state funding NCRIS, etc. Encourage cross-disciplinary initiatives to align smaller research groups with larger strategic centres

Build and strengthen national centres with national and/or state funding

NCRIS, etc.

Encourage cross-disciplinary initiatives to align smaller research groups with larger strategic centres

Outline How is the “research landscape” changing What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not What are other Universities doing? What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers Where to from here

How is the “research landscape” changing

What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not

What are other Universities doing?

What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers

Where to from here

What does it mean for Researchers? Two possible choices: Stick with the “tried and true” way of doing research, OR Decide on the riskier strategy of strategic research The later path means aligning or joining with larger groups and collaborators, and a lot of introspection on strategy

Two possible choices:

Stick with the “tried and true” way of doing research, OR

Decide on the riskier strategy of strategic research

The later path means aligning or joining with larger groups and collaborators, and a lot of introspection on strategy

Outline How is the “research landscape” changing What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not What are other Universities doing? What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers Where to from here

How is the “research landscape” changing

What succeeds in the modern research landscape - and what does not

What are other Universities doing?

What does it mean for Deakin and Deakin researchers

Where to from here

What is VPAC Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing Est. 2000, 60+ staff, independent not-for-profit company, 4 sites in Melbourne, international links Provides IT research services to academia, industry, and government Many production IT applications and services Shiine - surveillance for hospital acquired infection Biogrid (nee MMIM) Biobank Ghranite - secure data sharing between clinics, G.P.’s and hospitals vpac.org

Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing

Est. 2000, 60+ staff, independent not-for-profit company, 4 sites in Melbourne, international links

Provides IT research services to academia, industry, and government

Many production IT applications and services

Shiine - surveillance for hospital acquired infection

Biogrid (nee MMIM)

Biobank

Ghranite - secure data sharing between clinics, G.P.’s and hospitals

vpac.org

Where to from here? VPAC has been supporting Victorian researchers since 2000 VPAC is ready and able to commit resources to development of strategic centres/collaboration Examples - Monash geodynamics group What is needed for it to work? 1+1 = 3 … leverage VPAC and University resources Build on existing strengths and strategic opportunities Embedding - VPAC staff work closely with the Uni Sustainability - find ongoing long-term funding We can work to seek opportunities for funding Initiatives like VLSCI are emerging opportunities

VPAC has been supporting Victorian researchers since 2000

VPAC is ready and able to commit resources to development of strategic centres/collaboration

Examples - Monash geodynamics group

What is needed for it to work?

1+1 = 3 … leverage VPAC and University resources

Build on existing strengths and strategic opportunities

Embedding - VPAC staff work closely with the Uni

Sustainability - find ongoing long-term funding

We can work to seek opportunities for funding

Initiatives like VLSCI are emerging opportunities

Questions!