The Retail Industry Business Engagement Network (RIBEN) will bring together four of the UK's leading retail research groups from the Universities of Oxford, Leeds, Southampton and Surrey. The four groups have complementary retail industry/research council/Government Department linkages, skills and methodological orientations, and together they are in position to act as facilitators of wider social science engagement with the industry. All four partners have particular interests and expertise in retail location and planning. The network will host 15 CASE doctoral studentships, a series of knowledge transfer partnerships and placements, and an innovative voucher scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises, under which businesses can apply to "cash in" a voucher in return for coaching or tutorial support from faculty in the member universities. The network will be formally launched in 2009.
An annual high-profile meeting will showcase research underway and practitioner case studies; and six-monthly workshops will focus on regional knowledge and skills transfer.
The funding is part of a £6 million investment announced by the ESRC, as part of its commitment to support research and training essential to the international competitiveness of UK business.
Specific opportunities
a. CASE doctoral studentships
Up to 15 CASE doctoral studentships are available of three years’ duration starting in October 2009 and October 2010. Students can start directly on their research and spend the whole of their 3 years working on a project developed jointly between the University and the company. CASE studentships are fully funded in terms of course fees and maintenance. However, it is expected that a modest contribution to costs would be made by non-academic partners. A minimum contribution to both 'full time' students and to the University for 2009 is £4,000 per annum (£2,000 to the student and £2,000 to the University). Partners are also expected to contribute to reasonable travel, subsistence and accommodation costs for the student when resident with the partner organization. The host company must also have an operating base within the UK. Applicants will be required to meet both the eligibility requirements of ESRC (regarding UK/EU status etc) and the doctoral student entry requirements and application deadlines currently operating in Oxford.
b. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Up to 8 RIBEN Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are available from 2009. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships involve the forming of a partnership between the company (the company partner) and an academic institution (knowledge base partner), enabling the company to access skills and expertise. These are in the form of two-year awards to part-fund a KTP Associate (researcher) working within the host company. All KTPs must be processed and funded through the KTP Scheme, managed by Momenta on behalf of the sponsors. Each RIBEN KTP will be part funded by the ESRC and the collaborating organisation will be expected to provide a financial contribution. Average project costs are around £60,000 per annum and larger companies (more than 250 employees) are expected to find approximately half the project cost. For SMEs, this contribution falls to 1/3 of the project cost. The funding for each KTP is subject to a rigorous approval process. A partnership proposal form and grant application will need to be jointly developed by RIBEN and the collaborating organisation in discussion and with input from the Regional KTP Adviser. The proposal provides information about the proposed participants and their objectives. It also requires detail on the proposed work plan for the KTP Associate. All proposals are considered by a Partnership Approvals Group (PAG), and it is this group which determines whether the partnership is funded.
c. Student placements
Ten fully-funded student placements are available. Each three-month placement is open for ESRC funded students to work in a business on a specific short term project. The project must produce an identifiable research output which typically adds to, or broadly complements, the substantive theme of the student’s doctoral research. When a candidate is based at a business, that organisation will supply computing, email and other facilities necessary for the project. RIBEN is in the process of identifying ESRC funded doctoral students with potentially relevant research interests.
d. SME voucher scheme
An SME ‘voucher’ scheme will be launched in 2009 designed to assist retail SMEs in utilising expertise within the host Universities. Vouchers worth a maximum of £3,000 will enable businesses to fund short term academic consultancy to access research relevant to their organisation, or to frame questions that might be addressed through the commissioning of new research. The vouchers may not be used to cover the costs of standard training courses; software purchases; aid that would promote/subsidise the cost of exports; internships for students of knowledge institutions; design and production of advertising material; and sales activities.