Science and Technology Facilities Council
AbbreviationSTFC
Formation2007 (2007)
TypeNon-departmental public body
Legal statusGovernment agency
PurposeFunding of science research
HeadquartersPolaris House
Location
  • North Star Avenue,
    Swindon,
    SN2 1SZ
Region served
United Kingdom
Executive Chair
Mark Thomson
Main organ
STFC Council
Parent organisation
Websitestfc.ukri.org

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is a United Kingdom government agency that carries out research in science and engineering, and funds UK research in areas including particle physics, nuclear physics, space science and astronomy (both ground-based and space-based).

History

STFC was formed in April 2007 when the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC), the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC), along with the nuclear physics activities of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) were brought under the one umbrella organisation.[1] The organisation's first Chief Executive was Professor Keith Mason, who held the position until 2011, when he was replaced by Professor John Womersley. Womersley servied as CEO until 2016 when he left to become Director General of the European Spallation Source. Dr Brian Bowsher, former CEO of the National Physical Laboratory and member of STFC's Council was the last CEO of the STFC before it was subsumed into UK Research and Innovation, a division of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. In 2018 Professor Mark Thomson was appointed as the first Executive Chair of STFC under UKRI.

Purpose

Receiving its funding through the science budget from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), STFC's mission is "To maximise the impact of our knowledge, skills, facilities and resources for the benefit of the United Kingdom and its people" under several heads:[2]

  • Universities: the STFC supports university-based research,[3] innovation and skills development in particle physics, nuclear physics, space science and astronomy.
  • Scientific Facilities: They provide access to world-leading, large-scale facilities across a range of physical and life sciences, enabling research, innovation and skills.[3]
  • National Campuses: Working with partners to build National Science and Innovation Campuses based around National Laboratories to promote academic and industrial collaboration and translation of research to market through direct interaction with industry.[4]
  • Inspiring and Involving: STFC help create a future pipeline of skilled and enthusiastic young people by using the excitement of our sciences to encourage wider take-up of STEM subjects in school and future life (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).[5]

Activities

The STFC is one of Europe's largest multidisciplinary research organisations supporting scientists and engineers worldwide.[6] Through research fellowships and grants, it is responsible for funding research in UK universities, in the fields of astronomy, particle physics, nuclear physics and space science. The STFC operates its own world-class, large-scale research facilities (such as materials research, laser and space science and alternative energy exploration) and provides strategic advice to the UK government on their development. It manages international research projects in support of a broad cross-section of the UK research community and directs, coordinates and funds research, education and training. It is a partner in the UK Space Agency (formerly British National Space Centre or BNSC) providing about 40% of the UK government's expenditure in space science and technology.

Facilities

It helps operate/provide access for UK and international scientists to the following large-scale facilities:

Budget

STFC's budget is allocated annually by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. For 2015-16, its allocation was £529 million.[8]

Knowledge exchange obligations

STFC is active in its responsibility for knowledge exchange from government funded civil science into UKPLC. As such, many technologies are licensed to UK companies and spin-out companies created including:

However knowledge exchange activities are not purely limited to commercialization of technologies, but also cover a wider range of activities which aim to transfer expertise into the wider economy.

See also

References

  1. ↑ House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (2007). Office of Science and Innovation: Scrutiny Report 2005 and 2006. ISBN 978-0-215-03350-5.
  2. ↑ "STFC Corporate Strategy 2010 – 2020". STFC Corporate Strategy 2010 – 2020. STFC. September 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. 1 2 "House of Commons - Astronomy and Particle Physics: Government and Science and Technology Facilities Council Responses to the Committee's Fourth Report of - Science and Technology Committee". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Science & Technology Facilities Council | Sci-Tech Daresbury". www.sci-techdaresbury.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "stfc | BU Research Blog". blogs.bournemouth.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  6. ↑ Taylor, A.; Dunne, M.; Bennington, S.; Ansell, S.; Gardner, I.; Norreys, P.; Broome, T.; Findlay, D.; Nelmes, R. (2007). "A Route to the Brightest Possible Neutron Source?". Science. 315 (5815): 1092–1095. Bibcode:2007Sci...315.1092T. doi:10.1126/science.1127185. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 17322053. S2CID 42506679.
  7. ↑ "UK Team looking for ripples in Space". News, Events and Publications. STFC. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Science and research budget allocations for financial year 15/16, Department for Business, Innovation & Skills" (PDF). Gov.UK. gov.uk. September 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
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