Prof. Brian MacCraith, Director, Biomedical Diagnostics Institute, DCU DCU, November 3, 2005

Prof. Brian MacCraith,

Director, Biomedical Diagnostics Institute, DCU

DCU, November 3, 2005

Leadership in a Changing Research Environment

OutlineOutline

• R&D Context

• Background

– Developments as a Research Centre Director

• Experiences / Observations

• Key issues from HR perspective

• The Future

Context Context • Knowledge Society

• Key role for R&D; Government Policy

– Future economic growth

– IDA / FDI

• Unprecedented levels of Investment– NDP 2000-2006: €2.5bn Science R&D budget

– 1.46% of GNP

• Barcelona: → 3% GDP (2010)

• Rapidly changing environment

Public Funding of R&D 1993-2003 (2003 prices, €m)

93 101 92 108 106152 140

200

297

395 397

7134 62

74 81

8885

78

34

22 25

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

YearExchequer EU

164

135154

182 187

239225

277

331

417 422

€m

Source: Science Budget database, Forfás

Public funding of Ireland’s science base Public funding of Ireland’s science base is at unprecedented levels.is at unprecedented levels.

331,500,000

63,900,000

62,000,000

78,700,000

55,000,000

31,400,000

4,100,000

Bioscience / Biomedicine

ICT

Environment & Marine

Chemical & Physical Sciences

Social Science / Humanities

Engineering

Maths

153,500,000

126,000,000

64,000,000

Bioscience / Biomedicine

ICT

Environment & Marine

Chemical & Physical Sciences

Social Science / Humanities

Engineering

Maths

bottom-up (€)bottom-up (€)PRTLI etcPRTLI etc

strategic (€)strategic (€)SFI etcSFI etc

~ €1bn

Major Funding SourcesMajor Funding Sources

• Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

• Higher Education Authority (HEA) -- PRTLI

• Enterprise Ireland (EI)

• EU: Framework VI → VII

• Industry

• ….

• HEA PRTLI Cycle 1 – 1999

• Infrastructural deficit

• 3-year funding

• Key challenge: Sustainability

NCSR ProfileNCSR Profile

• Chemical Sensors & Biosensors

• 21 Academic Faculty

• >165 Researcherschemists, physicists, biologists, engineers.

• Largely short-term funding

• Commercialisation / industry orientation

Research Income

02468

101214161820

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005*

Year

NCSR Annual Research Income(€, millions)

* Incomplete data* Incomplete data

Centre for Bioanalytical Sciences(IDA ~€10m)

Smart Coast (~€1m)

SFI (€5.6m) NCSR / UCD

SFI CSET €22.5m

Large-scale Projects

Industry / Commercialisation

• Industrial collaboration (SFI / IDA / EU….)• Patent portfolio / IP Ethos / Confidentiality …• NCSR Commercialisation strategy / Growcorp

Siemens Gas Sensor Solutions LtdFluka

SFI CSET’sSFI CSET’s

• SFI Flagships: Centres for Science, Engineering & Technology (CSET’s)

• Industry-Academic Partnership

• 5-year funding – up to €25m

• Possible renewal to 10 years

• Emphasis on world-class science leading to economic impact

The PartnershipThe Partnership

Clinical context

Academic members

Industrial members

+ Associate members

Key FeaturesKey Features• Award (€16.5m) will fund a team of 55• Scale of Industry involvement (+€6m)

> 10 Industry Researchers located in Centre• Integration of academic & industrial scientists • IP Agreements• Researcher Contracts• World leading researchers…. Expectations!• …..

Issues for Research LeadersIssues for Research Leaders• Key role for R&D / National Economic

Responsibility

• Quality vs Scale

• ‘Supply’ of Leaders

• Managing opportunities provided by unprecedented levels of Investment

• Sustainability / Commercialisation

• Competitive environment for recruitment

• Retention…

Observations IObservations I• Huge reliance on voluntarism

• Team building

• Shortage of Leaders

• Tensions:

– Teaching vs Research; School vs Centre

• Rapid scale-up vs Support Units

• No rewards for performance

• Importance of core administrative team

Observations II: Observations II: Full-time ResearchersFull-time Researchers

• Competitive environment for recruitment

• International dimension

– Competing on world stage

– Evaluation

– Immigration / Time delays

• Salaries

– Spectrum

– Value of CHIU Scales

Observations III: Observations III: Full-time ResearchersFull-time Researchers

• Critical need for research career structure

• Resolution of Pensions issue

• Value & Respect – Identity

• Appropriate accommodation

• Induction programmes

• Retention!

Observations IVObservations IV

Positive Impacts:

• Ireland

• DCU

• AOIP (Annual Overhead Investment Plan)

– Support Structures (HR, Finance, OVPR etc)

– Technical Support

– Broader research community

Key Issues for HRKey Issues for HR

• Scale -- Support

• Competitive Environment

• Research Careers

• Pensions

• Industry interaction / Commercialisation

• Performance management & Rewards

• International Dimension

• Assistance in the search for new leaders – ‘Hit Squad’!

Key Issues for HRKey Issues for HR

• Expert Group on Future Skills Needs

– Research spending rising to 2.5% of GDP

– Researcher population: 10,214 (2003) → 18,304 (2010)

– Significant shortages projected

Key Issues for HRKey Issues for HR

• ‘Since most R&D expenditure is on staff salaries, the ability of Ireland (& the EU) to close the R&D gap will depend ultimately on the availability of R&D personnel to perform the R&D…’

• Need to be competitive – make Ireland an attractive location for researchers

Attractive LocationAttractive Location

• Quality of Research

• Reputation; Presence of Leaders

• Efficient, responsive environment

• Nature of Contracts

• Research careers

• Accommodation / Facilities

• IP

Conclusions: The FutureConclusions: The Future

• On the rising curve….

• Next NDP likely to increase emphasis on R&D

• Innovate or stagnate!

• Need for professional, responsive support structures

• Compete on the world stage

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

DCU HR Dept is grateful to Bennett Construction for sponsorship of this event.