Evaluation of the ScotCHEM research pooling exercise

In September 2010, the RSC responded to a Scottish Funding Council (SFC) enquiry evaluating the ScotCHEM research pooling exercise.

BiGGAR Economics and Optimat were appointed by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to undertake an evaluation of the Scottish universities' chemistry research pooling consortium. The consortium includes EaStCHEM, WestCHEM and the umbrella body ScotCHEM. As part of this project, key stakeholders in chemistry and the chemical sciences, and representatives from ScotCHEM, EaStCHEM and WestCHEM were consulted to:

• develop an understanding of whether and to what extent research pooling
  has helped to improve the research competitiveness of the participating
  institutions
• develop an understanding about the ways in which research
  competitiveness has been effected by the research pooling exercise
• gather information that will inform decisions about the future development
  of ScotCHEM and other SFC research pooling exercises.