Title: Who funds data collection and why? (2)
Course: UGQuants (SSPS) > Section: Beyond data collection and analysis

Who funds data collection and why?

Government Departments

In addition to the funding provided by Government to the Research Councils, many government departments also hold budgets allowing them to commission research. Such research is generally commissioned with the aim of supporting and informing development and implementation of government policy. A wide range of government departments at both central and devolved level support such research including, for example, the Department of Health, the Department for Transport, the Department for the Environment, and Food & Rural Affairs, in addition to departments within the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. One example of such research is the Growing Up in Scotland Study which is wholly funded by the Scottish Government with the aim of providing new information to assist the Scottish Government and others working with children and families to develop policies and services.

Trusts and Charities

In addition to the Research Councils and Government Departments, there is a large and diverse range of charities providing funding for research. Some examples include: (click on the logos to be taken to the website)

 | UK’s largest non-governmental source of funding for biomedical research and research concerning the history of medicine.
 | One of the UK’s largest sources of funding supporting all subject areas.
 | Funds research aimed at informing social policy.
 | Provides funding in two broad areas. Firstly it supports research and innovation seeking to achieve beneficial social change, and secondly it supports the development of research and professional capacity.
 | A large number of medical charities provide funding for research into specific illnesses

Commercial Bodies

A further source of research funding is provided by commercial bodies. The key providers of such funding include the pharmaceutical industry, the tobacco industry, healthcare companies and providers of food and consumer products. While the above mentioned sources of funding usually leave intellectual ownership of findings with the researcher, commercial funding bodies are more likely to demand it for themselves.

Commercial funding for research can take a number of different forms with varying degrees of involvement from the commercial body. For example, a researcher/team of researchers may undertake consultancy work for a commercial body. This involves provision of advice by a researcher not otherwise employed by the commercial body as an expert/professional on a particular issue. Alternatively, the researcher(s) may enter into a contract to undertake a specific piece of research or provide specific services for the commercial body. Conversely, the project may be a collaborative venture with research being carried out jointly by the researcher(s) and the funding commercial body. The nature of the research undertaken will normally lie within the researcher’s field of expertise whilst also being closely aligned to the business goals of the commercial body. Finally, the funding provided by the commercial body may be in the form of sponsorship/donation. This is essentially a ‘no strings attached’ gift to the researcher(s) which may take several forms including monetary payment or the provision of materials or equipment.