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University of Reading Professors have developed innovative theory of how Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) interact with different policy environments that has informed funding policy for research and innovation in the European Union and beyond. This work has led to the growing recognition of two policy dilemmas facing many countries' attempts to subsidise R&D activities, and their attempts to counter what was originally seen as the threat of the `hollowing out' of R&D activities to low-wage nations. Initially, Professor Rajneesh Narula identified how MNEs were reluctant to invest in R&D without a stable industrial policy. But a stable policy environment inevitably contained the potential for incumbents to gain privileged access to government support, which could disadvantage smaller firms in emerging, high technology sectors. This could result in such high-growth firms relocating from their home countries to more supportive environments overseas, with consequent negative impact on the economic well-being of the home country. Narula also recognised that as R&D activity in individual countries became more mature and more specialised, so firms would relocate some R&D activities to be closer to their ideal collaborators, many of which might be overseas. This relocation of R&D activities was, once again, not `hollowing out', but a response to increasing specialisation of R&D.
In the first instance, the appropriate policy response to the apparent threat of `hollowing out' of MNEs was for governments to invest more in subsidising R&D activities overall. In the second, it was to encourage a wider co-operation policy encompassing all forms of international research collaboration.
These ideas were incorporated into the EUs new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation — Horizon 2020 - where the focus on international collaboration beyond the EU represents a very significant departure from past EU practice. This is directly attributable to Narula's research.
This impact case study concerns the impact of FORD as an expert providing advice to the European Commission and the Research Executive Agency (REA) under the Framework 7 People programme contributing both as an expert and vice-chair in making funding decisions for Marie- Curie Fellowships (IxF (2007-2013) and CIG(2012-13)).
Marie-Curie Individual Fellowships (IxF) add to research excellence in both the public and private sectors in Member States and associated countries, due to the sharing and application of new knowledge transferred and developed by highly qualified researchers embedded in the European research effort while Career Integration Grants (CIG), which have a particular emphasis on countering the European brain drain, allow the transfer of knowledge that the researchers have already acquired as well as to the development of lasting co-operation with the scientific and/or industrial environment of the country from which they have moved.
In a series of European Union funded projects over the last 13 years, a computational simulation model (`SKIN') has been developed at the University of Surrey. SKIN has been used to perform ex post and ex ante policy evaluation for the European Commission and others to test proposed innovation policies and the model is now also being used around Europe for similar purposes at the national level.
These newly developed computational methods have been applied to allow policy makers to examine and understand the potential effects of interventions in complex innovation systems.
The impact of this work is that commercial growers of protected fruit, flower and vegetable crops around the world now have a tool to help them to detect the presence of Western Flower Thrips (WFT) in their crops, earlier and at lower numbers than they are currently able to. Growers can also enhance their existing control measures. WFT are insects that cause serious economic loss to growers because of feeding damage and virus transmission. By taking earlier and more effective action against WFT they can reduce plant damage, insecticide use and consequent financial loss.
The promotion of innovation adoption in high-tech small firms (HTSFs) has long been a European priority, but despite decades of attention, there is still a dearth of innovative HTSFs and, worryingly low participation levels of HTSFs in European R&D and innovation funding programmes. To capitalise on emerging high-tech markets it is imperative that HTSFs have the capacity to exploit these new opportunities and crucially, to contribute to the development of a modern economy. This multidisciplinary impact case investigates how to encourage the involvement of HTSFs in European funding projects. The impact of this research includes; methods for promoting the adoption of high-tech innovation across Europe and the development of European HTSF innovation and R&D funding policy recommendations that feed into the European Parliament, Horizon 2020 and numerous national and European high-tech associations and influential EC innovation networks.
Research from the world leading Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility (CCSR) influences policy decisions and practice at national and international levels.
The specific examples cited in this case study demonstrate the role CCSR research played in shaping electronic voting and electronic government in the UK, leading to the suspension of electronic voting in 2008 and an annual cost saving to the UK Government of £4m, and impacts on European ICT research policy including direct contributions to an EGE Opinion, namely the "The Opinion on Ethics and ICT". EGE Opinions are considered to be "soft law" as they are authoritative in their area of expertise. The `Opinion on Ethics and ICT' guided ICT research policy with regards to ethics and ICT during the FP7 funding programme, and it has been adopted as a set of underpinning principles for the Horizon 2020 programme. Other research findings have similarly informed the Horizon 2020 cross cutting theme of `Responsible Research and Innovation'.
A Responsible Innovation Framework developed by Prof Owen is transforming how Research Councils and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) fund and deliver programmes of science and innovation. The Framework recently became a central element of EPSRC's research policy. It has supported key governance decisions by EPSRC concerning the first, contentious UK field trial of climate engineering technology. It was embedded in EPSRC's Delivery Plan and Doctoral Training Centres, and TSB's Synthetic Biology Roadmap, Industrial Feasibility and Innovation and Knowledge Centre programmes. It has been an important input into a restructuring by the European Commission of the European Research Area, underpinning its Horizon 2020 Strategy and Innovation Union.
Research at The University of Nottingham's (UoN) Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology (CMMB) has informed a wide array of beneficiaries including public policy-makers, clinicians and industry in biomedical fields such as cancer and hospital infections. Through a wide range of mechanisms such as Study Groups, training, outreach and user-engagement, the CMMB has established an outstanding track record of furthering the use of mathematics and statistics to address medical and biological problems.
Rail transport is the greenest form of transport in that it produces the least pollution of the environment. However, the noise from squealing trains has been a major factor preventing the wider use of rail transport in populated areas, especially in cities, where trains have to traverse tight curves in built-up areas. Research carried out at Keele University on curve squeal gave crucial input to developing an effective control method (KELTRACK friction modifier, developed by the company LB Foster Friction Management). This is a device by which a thin film is applied at the wheel-rail interface, which in turn destroys the generation mechanism of curve squeal. The KELTRACK friction modifier is now used in transport systems all over the world, especially in underground systems, such as the metros of Tokyo, Beijing and Madrid.
Between 2010 and 2012, Professor Luciano Floridi transferred knowledge about epistemological issues in the philosophy of information to Sogeti, an international information technology consultancy; and, via Sogeti, to technology and business leaders in Europe and beyond, influencing their planning for and adaptation to technological change. In the realm of public policy, Floridi developed guidelines and protocols surrounding ethical problems concerning digital and online information. He chaired a European Commission group whose `manifesto' forms part of the EU's Digital Futures initiative; influenced thinking around IP and international trade agreements; and contributed to a UNESCO action plan on ensuring equitable access to information.