Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture (ENRA) research strategy 2027-2032: consultation

5.0 Delivering Our Investment

To deliver the research priorities set out in this Strategy, the programme will use five key funding mechanisms:

1) Strategic Research Programme (SRP)

• Longer-term (3-5 years) research which provides evidence relevant to Scottish Government ARIs.
• We will continue to use the MRPs to deliver the strategic research programme and will allocate resources accordingly.
• Processes that ensure flexibility and the ability to rapidly commission new, emerging areas of research need in the delivery of the strategic research will be maintained and developed.

2) Underpinning National Capacity Programme (UNC)

• The Underpinning National Capacity programme will continue to fund the maintenance of national collections of crops (such as potatoes, barley and soft fruit) along with pest and pathogen collections.
• New services will be expected to support the outcome focused approach discussed above including data and modelling capabilities and encouragement of utilisation of living labs.

3) Responsive Research Fund

• This flexible programme will deliver Scottish Government priority-led responsive projects. Medium-term research responding to new, unforeseen policy needs which emerge throughout the duration of the programme.
• The ability to deliver projects in collaboration with other UK funders or industry stakeholders to maximise the value and impact of our investment.

4) Centres of Expertise

• Centres of Expertise work at the interface between policy and research. They provide responsive work in areas of high policy importance: climate change, animal disease outbreaks, plant health, and water resources, drawing upon expertise from a range of different institutions and linking to policy teams.
• As part of the development of the next programme cycle, we will review the scope of subjects covered by the Centres of Expertise to ensure that the impact of our investment is maximised.

5) Impact Investment

• Funding used to deliver initiatives to maximise the impact of our research on government, business and public. Investment will be linked to the updated impact approach and deliver existing effective knowledge exchange tools. Funding here would deliver support for living labs and for innovation pathways, for example.

5.1 Governance & Reporting

Governance

The main components to the governance structure for the research programme detailed in Figure 4 below. No changes are envisaged from the current governance structure.

Figure 4: The governance structure for the research programme is headed by the Research Portfolio Board, briefed by the Main Research Institutes and chaired by the Director of ENFOR. The Scientific Advisory Board, co-chaired by the CSA and an independent member, reports to the Research Portfolio Board. The Scientific Delivery Group, chaired by the deputy CSA, supports the Scientific Advisory Board. The Operational Group, chaired by RESAS PMO, also reports to the Research Portfolio Board.

The Research Portfolio Board (RPB) oversees the whole programme on behalf of Scottish Ministers. It is responsible for ensuring the programme meets the priorities set out in this Strategy. The RPB is briefed by the Main Research Institutions to understand their operational status.

The ENRA Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) reports to the RPB and provides independent scrutiny and evaluation of the quality of research within the programme.

The Operational Group focuses on operations, finance, metrics and reporting. Attending it are officials from both the MRPs and Scottish Government at a mid-level, working through operational issues as they arise.

The Scientific Delivery Group (SDG) supports the SAB and promotes scientific alignment across the missions within the programme. Attending it are researchers from MRPs and Scottish Government officials at a mid-level, actioning key recommendations from the SAB.