Freedom of information (FOI) releases from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
This is a disclosure log of UK Research and Innovation's responses to freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) requests that might be of wider public interest.
If you can't find the information you're looking for, you can make a new FOI request.
1,058 disclosures
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Request Received: 1 September 2023
Glyphosate and effects on humans/living world - Can you please send me any current evidence you have of effects on humans/living world?
Clarified 1 September 2023
As a resident of Bristol I am concerned about the use of glyphosate across our city and the impact on health. So I'm looking for studies that show evidence of toxicity. I have significant evidence from National Centre for Biotechnology in USA but wanted UK evidence to please.
Published: 1 December 2023
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Request received: 10 July 2023
1. Please provide application form for these 100% £15,000 grants.
2. What are the terms of the grant scheme?
3. How much is allocated to the present budget?
4. How much of the present budget is already committed?
See background below.
Extract from InnovateUK Edge website.
"Gain access to expertise provided by Catapults and Research & Technology Organisations (RTOs) through Innovate UK EDGE. RTOs are specialised not-for-profit knowledge organisations dedicated to the development and transfer of science and technology to the benefit of the economy and society. They include hubs, laboratories, testbeds, factories and offices for cutting edge R&D. The Catapult network<https://catapult.org.uk/> of technology and innovation centres established by Innovate UK supports businesses to transform great ideas into valuable products and services. We can offer applicants with a suitable project a grant for 100% of eligible costs to a maximum of £15,000."Published: 1 December 2023
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Request Received: 29 August 2023
I would be very grateful if you could please provide the below information on the above funding competition for both Round 1 and Round 2
The information I would like to request is as follows:1. The total number of applications submitted and the number of those that were assessed (i.e. deemed eligible for funding);
2. The overall number of applications awarded funding and a breakdown of how many of these were first-time applications and how many were resubmissions;
3. The total number of applications within each innovation area and the number of those that were successful in each area;
4. The average grant request and project size of the applications successfully awarded funding;
5. The funding thresholds and average scores of successful applications;
6. The percentages of successful applications that were Industrial Research and Experimental Development;
7. The number of successful Industrial Research and Experimental Development projects that were (i) single applicant/partner, (ii) 2 partners, (iii) 3+ partner;
8. The total funding allocated in this competition round.+
9. How many projects awarded went to project set up.Published: 1 December 2023
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Request received: 26 August 2023
EXPERIMENTAL HYDROGEN PLANT AT GORDONBUSH WIND FARM
I wish to ask questions under the above Act regarding SSE Renewables' plans to build an industrial hydrogen plant at Gordonbush Wind Farm in Strath Brora, Sutherland. I understand that SSE is seeking money under the UK Government's Net Zero Hydrogen Fund which you administer.
QUESTION 1.
How much money have SSE applied for from your fund, and how much will you give them?
QUESTION 2.
SSE has already received in excess of £22 million of public money in constraint payments, purely for the windfarm at Gordonbush. They have also received a grant of £304,000 from the Scottish Government for this industrial hydrogen plant, and are now seeking even more money from you under this fund. Given that the company has a reported a profit of £2.53 billion (of which SSE Renewables contributes £580 million), how does giving this non-British private enterprise yet more cash from the public purse represent good value for money?
QUESTION 3.
Today Strath Brora, in which Gordonbush Wind Farm lies, hosts 73 wind turbines and a hydroelectric scheme. We already shoulder a disproportionate burden for renewable energy, both in real terms and on a per capita basis. If the UK Government backs the principle of Fair Net Zero how is supporting the over-development of Strath Brora considered equitable?
QUESTION 4.
We believe that this project is ill-conceived and will have a hugely negative impact on our quality of life, the peaceful enjoyment of our homes and consequent stress and disruption. How can you justify supporting this project which clearly breaches basic human rights?
QUESTION 5.
We who live in the Scottish Highlands pay amongst the highest electricity prices in Britain, whilst at the same time have the worst conditions contributing to fuel poverty: longer, colder winters; shorter winter daylight hours; older housing stock that cannot be brought up to modern standards. From our homes we also see chains of wind turbines producing 'renewable' electricity which goes anywhere but here. How does your body justify further financial support to SSE PLC which contributes to the excessive fuel prices we experience in rural areas?
QUESTION 6.
There is enormous local opposition to this project in our rural community and, thus far, we have seen no public engagement from your body. a) How can those of us who will be negatively affected by this scheme contribute to your decision-making process? b) If you determine to support this project, what influence will your contribution of financial support have on the independence of the planning process?
QUESTION 7.
SSE's ambition for the production of hydrogen here in Sutherland defies all logic; viz:
• The hydrogen from Gordonbush would be produced dozens of miles from the market for the product. It can only be delivered in massive 44-Tonne tankers, creating further damage to our already crumbling infrastructure and adding unnecessary carbon to our environment, whilst "decarbonising" elsewhere.
• The tanker movements on 8 miles of unfenced, single-track road with more than 20 blind bends, pose an obvious danger to crofters' livestock, wildlife, cyclists, runners, horse riders, leisure-seekers etc etc etc.
• Nobody visits the Highlands to experience heavy industry or giant tanker movements, six days a week on single track roads. The prosperity of our tourist economy will be directly threatened by SSE's project.
• SSE wants to abstract millions of litres of water from a local burn, and when that runs out pump it from our groundwater. We rely completely on private supplies from the groundwater for our domestic supply whilst SSE has a known history of damaging water supplies.
How do you justify supporting such an incongruous and destructive scheme purely on the self-interested claims of a profit-motivated developer?
Published: 1 December 2023
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Request Received: 4 September 2023
I am reaching out to gather information regarding the exact count of GCC nationals who are presently employed by or have previously been associated with bodies operating under UKRI (such as STFC or EPSRC, etc.). By "GCC nationals," I am specifically referring to individuals who hold citizenship in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE.
I kindly request your assistance in providing me with the figures.
Published: 1 December 2023
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Response received: 4 September 2023
I would like to make a FOI request for a list of AHRC peer review College member.
Published: 1 December 2023
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Request Received: 23 August 2023
This is an information request relating to the number of staff who are allowed to work from abroad. Please include the following information, for the 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 financial years:
•The number of staff, per year, given permission to work from abroad
•For each member of staff granted permission, please provide their pay band, the country they have been allowed to work from, the length of time that they have been allowed to work for and the dates they were allowed to work from abroad. Please also provide the reason.
If any of this is not possible to provide, please provide the remaining information If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the information exceeding the cost of compliance limits identified in Section 12, please provide advice and assistance, under the Section 16 obligations of the Act, as to how I can refine my request.
Published: 1 December 2023
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Request Received: 14 August 2023
If the information is available and you are able to share it could you please answer the following requests:
For the SMART January 2023 competition, for both the <18 month (<£500k) and >18 month streams:
* The number of applications
* The number of successful applications
* The success rate
* the minimum successful score
* the maximum successful score
* maximum score of failed applications
* average grant fund value per project
* the score distributions of the applications (e.g. % (or number) of applications which scored <70, 71-75, 76-80, 81-85, 86+)
* the count of successful projects by innovation area for each strand.
* the number of 1) applications and 2) successful projects with total project cost within £100k increments across both Streams.Published: 1 December 2023
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Request Received: 1 August 2023
Accordingly, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, and the common law right of access to information, I hereby request that Innovate UK immediately disclose, fully and without redaction, any and all relevant documents provided to assessors regarding standards expected in conducting fair, impartial, professional and socially responsible assessments.
Clarification received: 14 August 2023
To clarify, I am specifically interested in the following materials: - Briefing documents, guidance, codes of conduct, and training materials provided to assessors of the "Feasibility Studies for Artificial Intelligence Solutions" competition under which I applied in 2022
- General guidance, policies, and training materials provided to all Innovate UK assessors regarding expected standards of conduct, impartiality, and professionalism when reviewing applications. I believe these materials will provide useful context on the frameworks governing assessor conduct.
I hope to work together to increase transparency around assessor training and standards. Please advise if you require any other clarification.
Published: 1 December 2023
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Request Received: 16 August 2023
I am trying to better understand the funding process, and portfolio approach of Innovate UK.
For the following competition could you kindly provide:
Innovate UK Smart Grants: January 2023
(Competitions opened: Thursday 19 January 2023, Competition closed: Wednesday 14 June 2023).
https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/1448/overview/304e6f31-0117-44d1-8c2c-4852876a7928
Split into the 2 strands where possible:
1. Project with an overall requested grant up to £500,000
2. Project with an overall requested grant of over £500,000
Application data:
1. Was any portfolio/thematic selection performed; and the categories which were used if appropriate.
2. If there was a portfolio/categorised approach used, the number of assessed and number of successful applications for each theme.Published: 1 December 2023