In March 2024, we surveyed all of the academics who had engaged with the Researcher in Residence scheme
Of the 200 researchers we surveyed, 43 responded to the survey. 23.5% is roughly in alignment with a good survey response rate, but there will be a bigger effort to garner a larger response for the next survey in 2025.
The majority of the feedback was positive, with some respondents stating that the Innovation Launchpad Network+ helped them improve networking, bid writing and presenting skills. Combined with the access to the world class facilities at the Catapults, we can take away from this that the researchers are impacted positively as a result of interacting with our network.
Over the next fews pages, we will show you responses to questions covering communications/marketing, our application process and generally how the ILN+ supported and faciliated new relationships between academia and industry.
Annual Survey ILN+ Support
With 100% of surveyed academics receiving adequate information on the scheme before applying and 80.9% (38) reporting that they were supported (17% (8) submitted a 'neutral' response, 2.1% (1) submitted 'no') throughout the application process, we can confidently say that the ILN+ team support academics well during the application stage.
Annual Survey ILN+ Support
1= Not well at all 5 = Very well
1= Not easy at all 5 = Very easy
Only four respondents cited that they did not feel that the ILN+ facilitated a relationship between them and the Catapult. This could be because the academic already knew the Catapult - changes will be made to allow respondents to elaborate in future surveys.
The second graphic shows a mixed-to-positive response on how easy it was to get in touch with the Catapults.
Annual Survey ILN+ Support
We asked: What additional support could be helpful whilst carrying out your RiR project?
• "More financial support"
• "More opportunities on networking with other RiRs and workshops/training organised for ECRs"
• "(Collaboration) Agreement and IP management"
• "Platform for interaction with other awardees"
• "More support on the application that can be time consuming (e.g. documentation approval)"
• "University's support"
• "Business training for perhaps spinning out"
• "Possibilities of employing PhD students"
• "Honest and open engagement of the relevant Catapult would be a good start"
The comments for additional support show a wide range of suggestions. Some are relevant to the ILN+, but some are perhaps more relevant to Catapults and universities/institutions.
Annual Survey Marketing
The Network's marketing strategy was to target universities with email marketing - specifically those responsible for research, innovation, business development and knowledge transfer/exchange. 34% of respondents discovered the scheme through this route and a further 25.5% found out about the scheme via ILN+'s YouTube channel.
100% of respondents knew about the Catapults beforehand.
Annual Survey Marketing
1 = not at all 5 = highly influenced
Results from the marketing visuals questions were mixed-to-positive, with 43.2% of respondents resonating very well with the materials. A further 27.3% opted for 'somewhat well' and 27.3% 'neutral'.
In terms of influence of visuals, the results imply that more academics were influenced than not, but there is work to be done to improve this.
Annual Survey Marketing
1 = not at all 5 = very much so
Both of these graphics show a positive outcome of the marketing visuals and materials used. However, 32.6% of respondents felt neutral about the materials reflecting a welcoming and inclusive environment. This is something to take onboard and evalute ahead of future activities.
With 93.6% of respondents feeling the visuals were clear, one comment suggested it was confusing that scheme eligibility and the application form were on separate pages. This will be taken on board ahead of future activities.
Annual Survey Marketing
We asked: Are there specific changes or additions you would recommend to enhance the inclusivity of visuals and marketing in future ILN+ program applications?
• "It could be more effective if enhanced interactive features are added"
• "Testimonies from applicants and Catapults can be included"
• "I think that they are brilliant as they are"
• "Haven't paid attention to them tbh"
• "No. They are doing a good job"
• "I found out about the RiR scheme from a previous colleague who works for the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult. Without his direction, I probably would never have known about it. As such, my main recommendation would be to advertise the scheme through university contacts. We frequently receive e-mails from our research support team that target our interests and research profiles"
Annual Survey Marketing
Whilst the majority of the feedback is positive, it was disappointing to receive the following comment which shows how far the industry still has to go in terms of attitude, diversity and equality.
• "More photos of good looking ladies doing science"
We will continue to shine a light on the innovative work of all of our Reserchers in Residence
Annual Survey EOI stage
1 = not at all 5 = very much so
• "Information spread into different webpages connected by links, maybe better to have a unified webpage"
• "I found it slightly confusing. The purpose for the RiR scheme seems to be to to provide academic expertise to help make progress in targeted Catapult research fields. But the EOI form was based around a project I might bring. I expected the process to be about researcher capability relative to the Catapult's research programme. How could I propose a sensible project without extensive interaction with the Catapult?"
Annual Survey EOI stage
1 = not at all 5 = very much so
• "Form too onerous given the size of the award"
• "I had an email response from the ILN as soon as I made an enquiry and made the EOI. However, there was no reply from the Catapult coordinator until the ILN coordinator contacted again"
Annual Survey Full Application stage
Comments on the Full Application stage and suggestions for improvement
"The process and form looked more like a conventional grant application that one customised to the RiR process. As I understand it, the RiR scheme provides academic expertise to help make progress in targeted Catapult research fields. But the application form was mostly about around a project I might bring
I found I was speculating based on the small amount of interaction with the host Catapult. I expected more focus on researcher capability relative to the Catapult's research programme, rather than a speculative project idea
Also the host Catapult had already identified its research themes for this tranche, these were quite specific and it wasn't obvious to an outsider which of the Network+ thematic areas they aligned with. I had to make some educated guesses. I assume there was an internal process that pre-approved the Catapult's research projects, so I was confused as to why the applicant was expected to second guess the host organisation."
Annual Survey Full Application stage
Comments on the Full Application stage and suggestions for improvement
"When my EOI was approved, and I was contacted by the ILN (ccd the Catapult coordinator) to submit the full application, I still didn't get any response from the coordinator.
After I requested the ILN contact to contact the coordinator on my behalf, I was introduced to the technical lead of the Catapult. I had a long discussion with the technical lead and explained my proposal, and send them the application for review.
After my discussion with the technical lead at the Catapult, I didn't receive any response though they promised to give me their feedback. When I contacted them two days before the submission date, I got an email from the coordinator to say, my proposal wasn't inline with what the Catapult is trying to do."
Annual Survey Skills learnt
We asked: What skills and competencies did the RiR scheme help you to develop?
• "Networking"
• "How to complete a succinct application"
• "Networking, presenting, market validation"
• "Communication and project management skills"
• "Bid writing and project conceptualisation"
• "In general, personal (e.g.Networking) and professional (e.g. access to facilities of excellency) development"
• "Research, writing, industry engagement"
• "Networking and project management"
• "Writing a proposal"
• "Many, mainly analytical skills but also communication between different teams in industry"
• "External engagement and opportunities to work with industry"
• "R&D skills plus networking"
Annual Survey Catapult access
We asked: What resources and/or equipment has your RiR project enabled you to access at the Catapult that you would not have able to access otherwise?
• "Industry connections"
• "Concept development"
• "Data"
• "The real world industry environment and feedback"
• "Expensive measurement device that's otherwise unavailable to me"
• "Acting as facilitators and making dialogue easier"
• "Specific metrology and sensory equipment"
• "Access to really interesting people"
• "Bioreactors, different downstream purifying equipment and and analytical equipment"
• "Data from Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult"
• "Opportunities to work with industry and testbed trials"
• "Reactors and datasets"
• "Testing facilities at the Catapult"
• "The scheme will provide access to AAV particles"
• "Rich datasets"
Annual Survey Final comments
We asked: How has the RiR scheme helped you so far in the development of your career?
• "The application process helped sharpen my research ideas and conceptualisation"
• "Quite helpful especially on grant application and research"
• "It boosted my confidence and network with industry significantly"
• "It has helped me go through the process of applying for a competitve bid and to initiate a collaboration with a HVM Catapault."
• "New work opportunities"
• "Establishing closer links with the Catapult; support to attend and organise events"
• "The events were quite beneficial in getting touch with the other academics across the UK, enhancing my network, knowing what others do, and getting new ideas on project management, impact and EDI."
Annual Survey Final comments
We asked: How has the RiR scheme helped you so far in the development of your career?
• "It was the first independent proposal I have produced - the submission has been already a good step forwards and part of my annual PDR."
• "If my proposal is successful it will help immensely with my career development, as I have a stronger argument for my promotion."
• "Yes, it's allowed me to experience science industry"
• "Expanded networks and opened new opportunities"
The value of the Researcher in Residence scheme is huge to academics, as evidenced by these comments. Exposure to software, testing facilities and even industry connections helps to accelerate research from the labs, to industry
End of report.
Another survey will be taken in March 2025 as we welcome more Researchers in Residence to our network.
