EPSRC National Research Facilities in the Physical Sciences: Community Survey

Overview

As a valued member of the research and innovation community, we invite you to participate in this survey on National Research Facilities (NRFs) in the Physical Sciences . Participation in this survey is voluntary. However, we encourage individuals to share their views to help inform future decisions.

This survey aims to gather insights from the UK Physical Sciences community on current and future needs for NRFs. Your responses will help ensure that future investments are aligned with community needs, support scientific excellence and maximise impact across the UK research and innovation system. The findings will form part of the evidence base used to inform strategic decision making on the balance and prioritisation of investment across the research infrastructure landscape for UK physical sciences.

EPSRC defines National Research Facilities (NRFs) as nationally significant, mid-to large-scale infrastructures that provide open access to specialised equipment, facilities and technical expertise essential for advancing research and innovation. These facilities are user-focused, adapting their services to reflect evolving user requirements and developments in UK sciences and innovation priorities. They offer cutting-edge capabilities and instrumentation beyond the scope possible for individual institutions.

They support national capability by enabling high-quality, collaborative research and innovation across a range of disciplines, sectors and user communities. They enable access for the wider UK research and innovation community, operating under robust governance, to facilitate user engagement and contribute to long-term scientific, technological, societal and economic impact.

As National Research Facilities, they are expected to demonstrate community leadership and exemplify best practice in areas aligned with key EPSRC ambitions, including research data management, responsible innovation, EDI, accessibility, Trusted Research and Innovation, and environmental and financial sustainability.

How your information will be used

The information you provide in the survey will be used to gain community-driven insights into the current National Research Facility portfolio in the Physical Sciences and improve our understanding of future demand and strategic importance of the national research capabilities most critical to support world-leading physical science research. The data collected will be analysed internally and will contribute to the evidence base used to inform future decisions relating to the Physical Sciences NRF portfolio within EPSRC’s remit.

There is no plan to publish this reported raw survey data externally, however summary results may be shared internally and, where appropriate, externally, for example with our Strategic Advisory Board or to inform future funding opportunities and associated grant calls. Any data shared or published in these circumstances would be anonymised and presented in aggregate form, ensuring that individual respondents cannot be identified.

Contact details and confidentiality

Any contact details you provide will only be used where further clarification or elaboration of your responses would be helpful. We will only contact you if you have explicitly agreed to this as part of the survey, and you may opt out at any time.

We will not attribute any data or quotes to an individual. All data analysis will be done anonymously, beyond the specific staff handling the data analysis. Please do not include any personally identifiable information that could identify you or any other individual in your responses.

We will only process your personal data for the purposes as set out in this notice.

Opting in to future emails or surveys is completely optional, and we will only contact you if you choose to receive them.

Data protection and contact information

Your personal data will be handled in line with UK data protection legislation and managed securely. If you would like to know more, including how to exercise your Data Protection Rights under the Data Protection Legislation, please see the UKRI privacy notice.

We will retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this notice, in accordance with the UKRI retention schedule. Please see the Data protection policy – UKRI

If you have any questions about the survey or would like to withdraw your information, please contact physicalsciencespeerreview@epsrc.ukri.org, Nicola.Beech@epsrc.ukri.org, or Leila.Behrooz@epsrc.ukri.org. Where respondents have agreed to be contacted about their responses, any follow-up will be made from one of these email addresses.