Will I be forced to stop doing research that doesn meet its costs (e.g. Charities and EC funded grants)?
The short answer is – No! There are many good, non-financial reasons for undertaking a piece of research (such as prestige, or collaboration, or as a “loss-leader” to get a foot in the door), even if the full costs aren’t being recovered. Academic departments need to be able to make informed decisions about research plans; when departments know the fEC of a project and the income that is available to fund it, they are able to make such an informed decision about whether it should be carried out. Any shortfall in funding will be met from University sources, probably from the increased QR funding that has been made available (although only research being done in the public’s interest will have access to QR funds). N.B. A project would not be considered “in the public good” if; • the results are not freely publishable, • or if the intellectual property does not remain with the University.
