31
4.7 No specific targets were set by WEFO (or by the operation internally) for the sources of research income secured 11 . However, the operation collected this data as part of its monitoring and reporting processes. The position at January 2023 is summarised in Table 4-2. Funding from EU institutions (including the European Research Council) accounted for the highest proportion of income secured (50% overall). Given the uncertainty over the UK public funding environment, this is an encouraging finding in terms of the ability of the operation to secure funding from EU institutions. Further, approaching £0.5m has been secured from UK Government departments (including the Home Office and Ministry of Justice).
Table 4-2: Cumulative research funding secured and claimed, by source Indicator Value (£) % value
Number of projects
EU institutions
1,357,516
50%
2
UK Government
493,196
18%
4
Charity
431,145
16%
3
HEFCW/WG
290,611
11%
4
Business
134,300
5%
2
Other
19,701
1%
1
Source: SQW based on Swansea University monitoring data
4.8 Reviewing the data in more detail indicates over 10 separate individual funders, including several different charities, businesses, and public sector organisations, which highlights the range of potential different sources of funding available to the operation, and going forward. It is notable that the operation has not secured funding from UK Research Councils, which can be seen as both a missed opportunity to date (it is noted that the operation was unsuccessful in a large ESRC application which if achieved would have delivered fully again the income target), and an opportunity for the future. 4.9 It is also highlighted that the operation had recorded the number and value of unsuccessful grant applications. By October 2022 (with no further data provided in the January 2023 Claim), the operation had submitted 23 unsuccessful applications, with a total bid amount of £8.2m. At this point there were also five bids submitted that were outstanding, to a value of £1.1m. The significant level of competition for funding was highlighted consistently in consultations for the Final Evaluation, notably for UK-level and international awards, and consultees highlighted the learning and partnerships that had been generated by the unsuccessful applications.
11 To note, whilst WEFO did not set specific targets, it does stipulate the sources of income which are eligible to be claimed under ERDF funding.
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