A new Concordat has today (8 March) been signed by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

The Concordat will bring together researchers and experts from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the six other research councils with government officials to share knowledge and stimulate further research. In doing so, it will make the best use of combined resources and enhance the economic and societal impact of research.

Building on existing relationships with other government departments, this Concordat is the first time all seven of the Research Councils, together as RCUK, have signed such an agreement with a government department. It has a number of key objectives that both partners will work together to achieve. They include:

• Creating opportunities for both parties to comment and advise on each other’s research programmes.
• Working together to develop knowledge exchange activities.
• Investigating new ways of accessing and sharing data.
• Indentifying and development future research and training opportunities.
• Facilitating links with RCUK and relevant international research through respective networks.

Professor Rick Rylance, AHRC Chief Executive talking about the signing said “We all know how vital our communities are to our quality of life, our local economies and the possibilities we can realise in our lives. This concordat should bring researchers together with DCLG colleagues to work on the key areas where our research skills and experience can make a real difference to society. I am particularly delighted that the Arts and Humanities research community, through the AHRC, is taking a lead in this important work.”

Professor Alan Thorpe, Chair of RCUK said: “I am pleased to sign this Concordat on behalf of RCUK and believe it will help us work more closely with our colleagues in DCLG to get the most out of our joint initiatives. RCUK is committed to working with a wide range of partners in the public, private and charitable sectors to realise the full potential of our investment in research.”

The Concordat will provide a framework for current and future working between RCUK and CDLG. It will help identify areas of shared interest and opportunities for knowledge exchange.

Permanent Secretary of the DCLG Sir Bob Kerslake said: “Signing this Concordat is a great opportunity to build closer links between the Department and the academic world to give us better, more effective access to relevant research. To make the best policy we need access to high quality evidence and this agreement will help us make the best use of existing and new research, ensuring better value for money."

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AHRC Media Contact Jake Gilmore j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk Tel: 01793 41 6021
 
 
Notes to editors:
 
The Arts and 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.