Introduction

Process endorsement

The Board of Governors endorses the operational processes adopted by the IeMRC for the prioritisation, selection and award of funding for the range of research project proposals.

Ratifying of endorsed IeMRC processes

The Board of Governors periodically ratifies that the endorsed processes adopted by the IeMRC have been applied in a fair and transparent manner.

Imposition of sanctions

The Board of Governors is empowered to impose sanctions on members of the IeMRC and participating research institutions for such instances as non-delivery of official reports, breach of contract and misuse of IeMRC funds. EPSRC representation shall be required for such occasions.

Endorsement of the list of projects from IeMRC panel for funding

The ranked project proposals and funding decisions arising from the panel meetings are endorsed by the Governors. This list is accompanied by the minutes of the panel meeting and reflects the prioritisation of the proposals considered for funding. The Chair of Governors takes this action on behalf of the Board of Governors.

Endorsement of Flagship projects and projects over £500k

The IeMRC will engage in a number of Flagship projects, potentially in Grand Challenge Projects with other IMRCs and other research activities that require commitments of funding of >£500k. In such cases awards of IeMRC research funding exceeding £500k will require endorsement by the Board of Governors.

Endorsement of discretion exercised by Academic and Industrial Directors

The Chair of Governors endorses small funding awards (<£10k) at the discretion of the Academic and Industrial Directors. A case for such awards is presented to the Chair of Governors.

Reporting Structure

The figure below illustrates the reporting structure of the IeMRC. The Academic Director reports to the Governors directly and EPSRC via internal University line management, the Coordinator and Industrial Director in turn report to the Academic Director and the Secretariat provides support to the management and governance functions.

Process for Allocation of Funding

Generation of research topics

The Industrial Steering Group defines key research priorities based on its extensive knowledge on the needs of the UK electronics industry. The key research areas identified by the Industrial Steering Group to be addressed by the IeMRC at the first call were:

1. Assembly, Manufacturing and Test
2. Integration of disparate technologies, including Design and Manufacture
3. Business and Environmental issues

Generation of calls for proposals

From this list of prioritised topics a series of calls for proposals is generated. This generation of calls for proposals is carried out by the Coordinator and guided by the Executive Group to ensure appropriate academic content. Finally, the Chair of the Industrial Steering Group approves each call. The next call for proposals will be later in 2005. It should be noted that the call for proposals process is in addition to the formation of Flagships and Grand Challenge initiatives.

The published call for proposals includes the criteria for evaluation. An outline list of criteria derived from the first meeting of the Industrial Steering Group in November 2004 is as follows:

• Impact on manufacturing
• Relevance to chosen themes and needs of industry
• Value for money and matching funding from industry or other sources
• Synergy with other UK R&D projects and programmes
• Innovation and potential for industrial impact
• Quality of planning and research
• Track record of consortium
• Level of industrial involvement
• Dissemination and technology transfer

The call for proposals is disseminated widely through channels targeted at both industrial and academic communities.

Advice and brokerage

During the open call phase, potential applicants are advised to contact the Coordinator, who will work with potential applicants, if requested, in forming consortia to meet priority topics.

Proposal submission and selection

The call is in two parts. Interested parties are invited to submit an initial Outline Proposal of: one page to describe the consortium; no more than two pages, which address the project aims, objectives, methodology, overall cost and other relevant factors.

Outline proposals are reviewed by a selection panel and a small number are invited forward for development into full proposals. The process is implemented in such a way as to maximise the probabililty of success for those invited to submit for full proposals.

Full proposals follow the EPSRC model of a two-part proposal (Part A describing the consortium, Part B presenting the Case for Support) accompanied by the EPSRC standard forms (Je-SRP1). Post award, projects deliver annual reports and a final report following EPSRC Individual Grant Review (IGR) guidelines.

Exceptional projects

Large scale projects e.g. Flagship and Grand Challenge

Projects worth >£500k IeMRC funding (or smaller at the discretion of the Academic Director) are subject to additional scrutiny by the Industrial Steering Group. Proposers are invited to make presentations to the Industrial Steering Group and then have the opportunity to revise their proposals to address any comments or feedback from the group prior to the formal panel process. Such projects are approved by the Board of Governors.

Small projects

Projects worth <£10k IeMRC funding may be approved by the Academic Director together with the Industrial Director where rapid action is necessary to meet needs or opportunities. This may include activities such as commissioning of reports to support strategic activities.