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EPSRC and ESRC to fund new thinking on infrastructure

December 6th, 2011

New ideas and business models that may change the way the UK's infrastructure is both developed and managed are to be explored via research funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Seven million pounds will be dedicated to the research in response to Infrastructure UK's National Infrastructure plan 2011, launched in conjunction with the Autumn Statement on November 29, 2011. National infrastructures include facilities which support the delivery of energy, water, transport, digital communications and waste disposal networks. EPSRC and ESRC will jointly support two interdisciplinary centres that explore innovative business models around infrastructure interdependencies by December 2012.

Professor David Delpy, EPSRC's CEO said: "How our national infrastructure works has never remained static and now the UK faces new challenges that demand new thinking. Ideas on how we invest in, or interact with, our infrastructure will need to take account of engineering and economic practicalities of their potential adoption and implementation. That is why today we are flagging up that this call will be coming out next year."

Professor Paul Boyle, ESRC's CEO commented: "National infrastructure services are essential for supporting innovation and providing sustainable growth in our economy. Social Science research elements are key to identify how consumers, investors and operators of infrastructure will perceive the risks and opportunities associated with the development of new national structures. High quality research collaborations in engineering and the social sciences, can develop the tools and techniques to understand the interdependencies of Britain's infrastructure and support the implementation of new structures."

It is intended that the centres will be based on consortia of excellence, build on existing investments and contribute towards building critical mass as well as providing overt leadership within the community. The research focus will be on mid-long term interdependencies that lead to novel business models and feed in to sustainable regulation.

The call will be developed in discussion with business and academic communities and is expected to be announced in March 2012 with a closing date in June 2012.

Provided by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

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