Highlight Topic evaluation

Overview

The Highlight Topics (HT) fund was set up in 2013 by UKRI NERC as a rapid mechanism to identify and then fund strategically important gaps in the research portfolio. UKRI NERC is seeking to understand how well the HT mechanism has met its ambitions and would like to invite you to take part in a short survey, the results of which will contribute towards our wider analysis and evaluation of the HT fund. The overaching evaluation questions are: 

1. Has the HT funding model been successful in encouraging the submission of high quality ideas from the research community in each round?
2. Has the HT funding model been effective in rapidly identifying strategically important topics that fill identified research gaps in terms of either size of award and/or portfolio?
3. Has the HT funding model been effective in the rapid delivery of awards that fill strategically important identified research gaps?
4. During the 10 years of the HT funding model, have the funded activities contributed towards NERC’s progress in achieving impact and its strategic priorities?

It is expected that the findings of this evaluation will help inform future iterations of the HT model through the provision of insights on if/how it might be improved. 

We anticipate that the survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and we thank you in advance for taking the time to give us your views. 

What happens next

The results of the survey wil be fed into the broader evaluation of the Highlight Topics fund and UKRI NERC will use the results to help inform how the HT fund might evolve in the future. UKRI NERC will publish a brief summary of the evaluation findings once available.