UK Network Inaugural Forum Birmingham 1st October 2014

ESRC Urban TransformationsGlen Noble, ESRC Senior Portfolio Manager for Urban

Transformations

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Summary ESRC and RCUK Background ESRC’s Urban Transformations Portfolio JPI Urban Europe SEiSMiC Opportunities

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Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

We are the major public sector funder of research on economic and social issues within the UK.

We support independent, high quality social science research and post graduate training in the UK, which has the potential to have an impact in academia and/or on business, the public sector and civil society.

Non-Departmental Public Body, established in 1965, largely funded through the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS).

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Research Councils and RCUK

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RCUK Programmes and Priorities

Social Science is embedded in all six cross-Council programmes

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ESRC Urban Transformations Portfolio

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Urban Transformation: A portfolio of activities to consider factors

currently transforming urban economic, social and cultural life with the goal of enhancing the

sustainability and livability of urban areas.

Social Innovation, Urban Living and

Digital Technology

Environment, Resilience and

Urban Vulnerability

Urban Economies

Inequalities, Diversities and

Difference

Politics, Contestation and

Governance

Cross-cutting areas

Other considerations:• Encourage innovative

and interdisciplinary research methodologies

• Conceptual development

• Big Data• International in scope

and comparative urbanism

• Urban issues at a range of scales

• Optimize impact of existing investments

ESRC Urban Transformations Portfolio - Priorities and Thematic Areas

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Existing Investments and Future Opportunities

Current Activity◦Big Data Centres◦ Joint Research Calls with DfID◦Urban Transformations Co-ordinator◦ JPI Urban Europe

Going Forward◦New research: Call for innovative, high risk-high reward

research ◦ International collaboration: Newton Fund◦ Future Cities Catapult: Knowledge Exchange Fellowship &

postgraduate placements

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Joint Programme Initiative (JPI) Urban Europe

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JPI Urban Europe The ESRC is the UK representative and leading UK funding

agency. Countries can decide to opt in and out of particular calls The second call invited consortia projects to address the

following research topics:◦ governance of urban complexity; and ◦ urban vulnerability, adaptability and resilience.

The call was managed by the Netherlands and Austria. 10 projects were funded, with over £10m of investment from 10 different countries. The ESRC has contributed £1.6m.

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JPI Urban Europe – UK Funded Projects

Integrated Data Visualisalisation and Decision Making Solutions to Forecast and Manage Complex Urban Challenges (UK Lead – Oxford University and the Open Data Institute)

Governance of Urban Sustainability Transitions: Advancing the role of living labs (UK Lead – Durham University)

Simulations for Innovative Mechanisms for the Self-organizing City:testing new tools for Value Capturing (UK Lead – Liverpool University)

Improving the Robustness of Urban Electricity Networks (UK Lead - Queen Mary University & Ethos Smart)

Resilient Cities – Network and Institutional Perspectives on Economic Growth and Well-being (UK lead –LSE)

Incubators of Public Spaces (UK Lead - UCL)

For more information: http://jpi-urbaneurope.eu/category/projects/

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JPI Urban Europe Future Research Calls

JPI Urban Europe Call Three: ERA-NET Cofund for Smart Cities and Communities (ENSCC)

JPI Urban Europe Call Four: ERA-NET Cofund for Smart Urban Futures

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SEiSMiC Opportunities Timeliness Bringing together different stakeholders and forming

partnerships to better understand and address urban challenges (both within a UK and international context)

Providing a platform for information exchange and enhancing access to resources and funding

Sharing best practice and lessons learned (including examples within the UK, Europe and Internationally) to help build a social innovation culture.

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Thank you

For further information:

Email: urban@esrc.ac.ukESRC website:

http://www.esrc.ac.uk/research/major-investments/urban/index.aspx