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Improvements to the practices and procedures of the European Food Safety Authority

Summary of the impact

Research at Kingston University into global food safety, led by Professors Naughton and Petroczi, established new methods of using large databases to identify risks in the food chain and inform regulatory action.

Through Professor Naughton's chairmanship of the EFSA External Review Working Group, this research contributed to improvements in the practices and procedures of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the main body providing scientific advice to the European Union on risks in the food chain. This led to a reduction of around 75% in the number of erroneous outputs generated by EFSA, with consequent benefits to food safety across the EU.

Submitting Institution

Kingston University

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Information and Computing Sciences: Information Systems
Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Participatory Governance

Summary of the impact

Research on participation in governance and related policy instruments, with a particular focus on interest organisations and groups, with strategic orientation of research publications towards impact, and evidence of use at the highest level in public policy reviews and public discourse/debate, as well as deliberations of advocacy groups.

Submitting Institution

Robert Gordon University

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration, Political Science

Integrated and Sustainable Food Systems: Influencing Policy-Makers

Summary of the impact

The Centre for Food Policy (CFP) at City University London has analysed the food system's dynamics and impacts and how policy shapes and addresses its challenges. CFP influence has taken two forms:

(1) Injecting the case for integrated policy analysis into policy debates. For example:

  • Establishing Ecological Public Health as a reasoned intellectual framework, for instance in the Chief Scientist's Foresight Obesity project as a unifying perspective, binding different disciplines and data in the much-cited obesity `systems map'.
  • Shaping food policy discourse, manifest in Defra's Food 2030 policy framework (2010).
  • Taking the case to the food industry, during and after the food commodity price `spike' (2007 to 2008) and the horsemeat scandal (2013).

(2) Advising high-level policy-makers. For example:

  • Proposing in 2005 the creation of and then serving on (2008 to 10) the Council of Food Policy Advisors.
  • Advising the Cabinet Office for its Food Matters policy report (2008) which led to the creation of a Cabinet sub-committee, the Domestic Affairs (Food) Committee (DA(F)), chaired by Hilary Benn.
  • Appointment to the Expert Advisory Group on Obesity (2008 to 2010) following the Foresight obesity project and advising the £0.3bn Healthy Weight Healthy Lives programme.
  • Advising United Nations bodies on integrated policy.
  • Being appointed as members of the Cabinet Office review of food policy (2008).
  • Providing `inside track' Whitehall briefings to ministers, civil servants, commissions and Select Committees as requested, e.g., on food security following the commodity price `spike' (2008 to 2009).
  • Prime Ministerial appointment to the UK Sustainable Development Commission enabling leadership and actions inside government e.g., on food security and sustainability.
  • Appointment to Ireland's SafeFood Advisory Committee.

Submitting Institution

City University, London

Unit of Assessment

Sociology

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Agriculture, Land and Farm Management
Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Strengthening global regulatory capacity for nanomaterials risks

Summary of the impact

Dr Robert Falkner's research into international risk regulation for emerging technologies underpins the work of the Nanotechnology Policy and Regulation programme at LSE. On the basis of this work, Dr Falkner was tasked by the European Commission to lead the first ever comparative study of nanotechnologies regulation in the EU and US. This research has stimulated policy debates in the UK and Europe on how to strengthen regulatory capacity in the field of nanotechnologies. The research has highlighted, in particular, the importance of improved transparency about nanomaterials in consumer goods and supply chains. This research finding has influenced the conclusions of the first UK parliamentary enquiry into nanotechnologies regulation and has informed a recent shift in global policy debates towards comprehensive and mandatory nanomaterials registers.

Submitting Institution

London School of Economics & Political Science

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Applied Economics
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration
Law and Legal Studies: Law

Improving the co-ordinated regulation of telecoms markets across the EU: Shaping cross-border markets and their regulators

Summary of the impact

Boeger has co-produced a highly influential body of collaborative work on telecommunications regulation which had direct impact across the EU. It has led to: substantial reform of Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications ("BEREC") and its Office's working methods; dialogue shaping across the EU Commission, European Parliament, and Member States; influenced an EU Parliament report; and has been the driver of inter-institutional pressure on BEREC and its office. In summary, the research kick-started and directly shaped the substantial changes to BEREC and its office both now and for the future, and is a key reference point. The overall aim is to improve the co-ordinated regulation of telecoms markets across the EU.

Submitting Institution

University of Bristol

Unit of Assessment

Law

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration
Law and Legal Studies: Law

The development of the European Road Safety Observatory and the impact on safety policy-making

Summary of the impact

Research at the Transport Safety Research Centre (TSRC) at Loughborough University has led to the development of a new road safety data and knowledge base called the European Road Safety Observatory (ERSO). The European Commission has confirmed in a reference that it has become a standard tool for EU and national level safety policy development and has been praised by the European Parliament. Since being established in 2006 it has been emulated at national level by many EU Member States including the UK, Spain, Czech Republic, Netherlands and France. The ERSO website now receives over 5000 hits each month from road safety policy-makers across the EU. The research, which was led by TSRC researchers, was conducted between 2004 and 2012 and in 2013 was awarded the HRH Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its impact on road safety.

Submitting Institution

Loughborough University

Unit of Assessment

Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Case Study 2: Improvements to the European Union’s co-financing arrangements through greater transparency, visibility and financial control.

Summary of the impact

The global financial crisis led the European Union (EU) to diversify its sources for the EU Budget, including co-financing instruments with multilateral development banks. Dr Robinson's research addressed key concerns about financial risk and the lack of transparency created through such partnerships. His research has been recognised as improving the understanding of these complex instruments within EU institutions and its impact may be measured through the implementation of several of its key recommendations. These include the creation of the `EBRD Representative for EU affairs' within a participating bank, the acceleration of EU co-financing strategy, and the unprecedented action of the EU Court of Auditors including the banks in their auditing process.

Submitting Institution

University of Leeds

Unit of Assessment

Politics and International Studies

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Applied Economics
Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services: Banking, Finance and Investment
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Industrial and Regional Policy for Restructuring

Summary of the impact

This case study focuses on research into how sectors such as automotive and clothing are restructuring themselves, the consequences for communities, and the implications for industrial and regional policy responses. Impact has been achieved through: directly informing and shaping government policy and strategy; recommendations applied by government organisations and agencies; and through direct benefit to organisations and communities. Three linked areas where impact is evidenced are highlighted: industrial policy for traditional and emerging sectors; policy for funding and developing sub-regional economic development structures; and policy for dealing with economic shocks.

Submitting Institution

Coventry University

Unit of Assessment

Business and Management Studies

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Economics: Applied Economics
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

International Social Research Methods: Enhancement of Analysis, Resources and Training

Summary of the impact

This case study focuses on the impact of research undertaken within the European Research Centre (ERC) and the Centre for the Study of International Governance at Loughborough University between 1993 and 2009, primarily by Professor Linda Hantrais (1993-2008 and now Emeritus). The impact of the research has been created through high quality cross-national socio-demographic analysis which has underpinned policy formation and delivery at the European and national levels, with particular reference to social policy, citizenship and family policy. It has had a substantial further impact by generating advances in international comparative research methods and training.

Submitting Institution

Loughborough University

Unit of Assessment

Area Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Demography, Sociology

Subregional Cross-Border Cooperation in Post-Communist Europe: Supporting and Supplementing European Union Integration Processes

Summary of the impact

Professor Martin Dangerfield's research has focused on subregional cooperation in post-Cold War Europe with special emphasis on interactions with broader European integration processes. Its significance was acknowledged by policy-making communities at national, subregional and EU level. Dangerfield was appointed to advisory roles in events that both debated and informed public policy and enhanced public awareness. These concerned multilateral foreign policy cooperation of new EU members, namely the Visegrad Group (VG), and conception, design and implementation of a major EU initiative — the `Macro-Regional Strategy'. Dangerfield's work has also been cited widely in relevant non-academic publications produced for policy analysis and to deliver recommendations.

Submitting Institution

University of Wolverhampton

Unit of Assessment

Area Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Studies In Human Society: Political Science
Language, Communication and Culture: Literary Studies
History and Archaeology: Historical Studies

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