Editorial

Citation

Stylios, G.K. (2013), "Editorial", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 25 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijcst.2013.05825caa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Volume 25, Issue 3

Despite the difficult times of austerity, governments realise that there is no growth without research and development. Research is primarily the business of universities and R&D organisations and although we may moan about shortage of cash for research there are facts that prove otherwise. A lot has been said about the EU commission and I do not want to keep repeating the opportunities that we may have from the Framework 7 now in its end and the Framework 8 which is due to be announced. I will discuss an example from the UK which is interesting, because in addition to normal research council funding for research it has set up an extra £300million fund called; UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (2012-2015) which has benefited already fourteen project partnerships of universities with industry to the tune of £230millions, Table I.

The UK Research Partnership Investment Fund is designed to support investment in higher education research facilities. This fund was set up in 2012 and will run for three years until 2015 and the second round for £80 millions is now open to partnerships until February 2013. The project has to be a large-scale initiative with a total project size at least £30million of which the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund will provide a third. The remaining funds must come from companies, charities or individuals but validated in-kind contributions are also eligible. In addition pre-existing initiatives are eligible if the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund element can be demonstrated to be additional.

The fund has four main objectives. These are to:

1. 1.

   enhance the research facilities of higher education institutions (HEIs) undertaking world-leading research;

2. 2.

   encourage strategic partnerships between HEIs and other organisations active in research;

3. 3.

   stimulate additional investment in HE research; and

4. 4.

   strengthen the contribution of the research base to economic growth.

Proposals to the second round of UKRPIF are now open and any institutions wishing to be considered should submit a proposal to: researchpartnerships@hefce.ac.uk by noon on 11 February 2013.

Any funding of course has strict rules and stipulations and it needs a lot of work not only to manage it but to apply for it. I know that the paperwork is so excessive in some of these proposals that you need a team of people to complete them on a full time basis, but this is a debate for another time.

It would be very exciting to see textiles and clothing or any related disciplines to be funded under any initiative of course and we would be willing to support any such initiative which will not only see benefits for the institution or country, but further a field. There are a number of research areas that warrant substantial funding to make the difference and I have highlighted these areas in my editorial in the previous issue of this volume (Vol. 25 No. 2). Good luck if applying […]

George K. StyliosEditor-in-Chief

Table I UKRPIF allocations