RCUK welcomes the announcement that the weighting of research impact in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) will initially be 20 per cent and increasing thereafter.

Professor Dave Delpy, RCUK Impact Champion said: “We welcome the significant weighting given to research impact in the REF. This underlines our belief in the importance of supporting excellent research that has a positive impact on the economic growth, prosperity and social wellbeing of the UK. RCUK supports a wide definition of impact, which includes social, economic, cultural, environmental, health and quality of life benefits.”

RCUK will continue to work closely with the Funding Councils around impact to ensure that the RCUK Pathways to Impact, and the Research Outcomes Project, as well as the REF are effective in pursuing shared objectives. The Research Councils will continue to work with HEFCE to contribute expertise in developing impact assessment methodologies.

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Notes to editors

AHRC Media Contact Emi Spinner  - Tel: 01793 41 6020
Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC): Each year the AHRC provides approximately £112 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,300 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.

Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and charitable organisations.

The seven UK Research Councils are:
• Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
• Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
• Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
• Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
• Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC)