SFC news published since 2018. See SFC archived content for earlier news articles.
Review of Coherent Provision
and Sustainability
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has today (29 March) launched the first stage in a new approach to research collaboration: Alliances for Research Challenges (ARCs).
ARCs are a new and exciting direction in SFC’s support for research collaboration. Responding to the UK’s changing research landscape, they will span across the research landscape making connections and encompassing different disciplines, sectors, and places to boost Scotland’s research funding leverage and pursue big societal challenges.
This new approach to research collaboration will facilitate multidisciplinary and multi-institutional connections to bring broader groups together that support the development of bids for challenge-led research funding.
Alliances for Research Challenges will be led by our world-class universities and involve cross-sector partners including Scottish Innovation Centres, colleges and Research Institutes as well as industry and policy-makers where appropriate.
The research challenges will be determined by the sector. Based on key criteria, including alignment with Scottish Government national priorities, we’re looking to the research community for ideas of the key areas where ARCs will focus, in response to the call launched today.
Speaking on the day the call for proposals was launched, Dr Cat Ball, Assistant Director of Research and Innovation, said:
‘We know that the critical opportunities and challenges facing us as a society demand focus from the research community. SFC Alliances for Research Challenges will catalyse Scottish research sector coordination and collaboration to boost research funding and drive research that will benefit us all.’
The call for challenge areas runs until noon on 6th June 2022.
