Old boy’s network prevents energy millions heading North
Nov 7 2009 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
AN “old boys’ network” has been blamed for stopping millions of pounds in energy research grants heading North.
Civil servants have been asked to explain why staff at the world leading New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in Blyth, Northumberland, have had “great” funding bids turned down and cash sent instead to researchers in the “golden triangle” of Oxford, Cambridge and London.
Evidence given to the North East regional select committee has revealed concerns that funding bosses in London are basing their decisions on personal “old school tie” connections rather than the job creating or energy benefits.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills told MPs on the committee that, if anything, the region gets more than its fair share of research spending, a claim business leaders have queried.
Speaking at a North East regional select committee hearing, Narec chairman Dr Alan Rutherford said the organisation had lost out on funding, and appeared to question whether the individual merits of a bid were dismissed if they did not come from one of an elite group of university research centres.
He told the committee: “We have put together what we thought were exceptionally good bids, but they did not get through simply because we were not close enough to the people who were judging the bids. It is a learning curve, and I think that we are getting better at it.”
And he added that Narec had lost out on £40m of European funding because it did not have help putting together bids.
That cash eventually went to a team from Aberdeen who have since approached Narec for help because they do not know what to do with the funding.
Speaking to The Journal, Dr Rutherford he said the funding situation was improving as the Government now recognises how important North East energy research has become to the UK economy.
He said: “We have been on a learning curve, but I am optimistic that things are getting better.
“We have had to play catch-up but we are certainly gaining on others who are more used to securing this funding.”
