University of Dundee Strategic Advisory Taskforce workshops: research

The University of Dundee Strategic Advisory Taskforce held a series of workshops in June and July 2025. These covered a range of subjects agreed with the University of Dundee (UoD), and the purpose was to provide more focused and detailed discussion on issues relevant to the University’s recovery planning. Minutes from the workshop the future vision for research are below.

You can read minutes from the other workshops at: University of Dundee Strategic Advisory Taskforce

Attendees and apologies

• Michael MacDonald, University of Dundee
• Anna Grey, University of Dundee
• Martine Van Ittersum, Dundee University and College Union
• Helen Cross, Scottish Funding Council
• Cat Ball, Scottish Funding Council
• Colin Brown, NHS Education Scotland
• Andrew Henderson, Scottish Enterprise
• Mathew Lockley, Scottish Enterprise
• James Brown, University of Abertay
• Peter Hope-Jones, Scottish Government
• Callam Fowler, Scottish Government
• Linda Galloway, Scottish Government
• Claire Glancy, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Presentation

Professor Mike McDonald, Chair of Biomedical Photonics and Anna Grey Director of Research and innovation Services gave a presentation setting the scene for the University of Dundee’s Research capabilities and performance. This information included data to compare the strengths of the University of Dundee compared to rest of the UK, noting that life sciences is not the only good thing that the University does.

Certain disciplines were noted as areas for improvement but also caveated by the fact that REF performance indicators are impacted by the way disciplines are assigned to units of assessment and hence do not always align with schools.

An overview of research income was provided, with the biggest funder noted as UK Charities.

Further slides were presented to explain how research projects connect across the University of Dundee portfolio and are linked to wider strengths. As part of this, it was noted that not all research funding is focused on life sciences, with comments made about the Tay Cities funding used for BioTech and Medtech.

The information presented highlighted how diverse Tayside is and the opportunities available to the University given its key links to NHS, the James Hutton Institute and the V&A Museum for example.

Furthermore, key points were made around the large volume of work in the energy and environmental areas, with floating offshore wind turbine platforms being one example of a USP at Dundee.

In addition to this, information presented highlighted the unique situation at the University of Dundee regarding its position of having fully trained practitioners for forensic science such as in forensic dentistry and post mortem work.

Wider consideration of the system within Scotland’s Higher Education sector and lessons that can be learned globally, and particularly the benefits of collaboration over competition – with the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre being one example of this working successfully.

Discussion

Themes that emerged from discussions included:

• research itself is not necessarily an income-generating activity and the implications of portfolio management (ie the spread of grants from different funders must be included in decision making
• there is a key task for the university in improving the robustness of research grant finances – making bids based on accurate assessment of costs, and understanding the impact of research funding that doesn’t fully cover the costs of the research. This is part of the wider challenge around university finance but is a specific area where advice and collaboration could be helpful
• University processes related to  carrying the shortfall on research has been very centralised and could do with being re-examined. There were different perspectives on relative benefits of schools having responsibility of their own finances vs assurance and oversight via central control. How governance in this area could be improved or alternative models would be welcomed
• while acknowledging the tension between collaboration and competition, there is a need for a more regional approach in Dundee, looking critically where there is overlap between offerings. There are current strengths around collaborative work with NHS Tayside, the James Hutton Institute, Dundee City Council – but potential for improvement on joint working with other higher education institutions, which is something SFC could potentially help facilitate
• the university needs to focus particularly on its distinct strengths, USPs and emergent areas – but this doesn’t mean it’s only about life sciences. Advice and discussion would also be welcomed around best use of institutes as opposed to other types of bodies

Challenges

• challenges faced by institutions to compete for funding of projects, and how inefficient this is when the majority of the work put in by academics to write grant applications won’t be funded. Competition is good in the right place, but also leads to a very wasteful use of resource
• research income and funding of grants and concerns that this does not cover overheads, especially in relation to charity funding
• better processes and structures required to analyse grant applications and track grants to monitor performance, spend and outputs
• type of funding for grants and the impact this can have on immediate income for the institution. This is particularly felt in terms of cash flow as most funding is received only after the money has been spent

Possible opportunities

• importance of University of Dundee profile and the research opportunities to seek a diversification of funding sources – UoD currently as a large proportion of funding coming from charitable sources, particularly in life sciences and medicine
• governance arrangements for funding of grants and finance matters, to allow the University to make better decisions on spending
• diversity of Dundee region highlighted and opportunities that this can present to work with local sector and communities, as well as wider organisations
• opportunities to maximise engagement with organisations regarding MedTech, AgriTech, BioTec for example, and areas for University of Dundee consider such as AI growth hub. This also underpinned by fundamental science, engineering and mathematics and by our strengths in design
• how can University of Dundee utilise the unique situation regarding forensic anthropology within CAHID that all relevant staff are fully trained practitioners. Also the wider picture that there is strength in forensic science across the university and for the work which has been supported by the LRCFS to be sustainable it needs to be better integrated with that wider forensic excellence
• the need for the University of Dundee to have a clear vision for now and the future, and actions for the University assess supply and demand of research programmes
• the need to identify collaborative opportunities nationally and internationally, and sustainability for life sciences and other parts of the research portfolio going forward specifically around succession planning

Collaboration

• taskforce members can provide role to assist the University of Dundee in finding a longer-term plan for future financial stability. Members could also offer advice on best practice in management of data systems/processes to support grants and evidence based decision making
• SFC and Scottish Enterprise, including other stakeholders, collaborative in a positive manner and will continue to do so
• existing strengths of working with partners including NHS Tayside, James Hutton Institute and the V&A Museum, and projects that form part of that collaborative approach
• wider consideration of the system within Scotland’s Higher Education sector and lessons that can be learned globally

Actions

• University of Dundee’s approach to identifying emerging trends to seek out new opportunities
• need for a framework to support the University of Dundee’s approach to consultancy and commercial expertise
• promotional work to highlight the positive work of the University of Dundee for public awareness – this is crucial as part of the University’s recovery