Publication - Research and analysis
Scottish Environment Food and Agriculture Research Institutes (SEFARI): analysis
Reports the findings of Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) commissioned research to analyse how the five Main Research Providers (MRPs) relate to their collective identity as Scottish Environment Food and Agriculture Research Institutes (SEFARI), how they benefit from the collective identity, and how the SEFARI identity can best contribute to the next cycle of strategic research funding.
Appendix 2: Interview Protocol
SEFARI Structure-Function Analysis: Interview Protocol
1. Questions for Scottish Government (RESAS)
1.0 Introduction/ Scottish Government, RESAS and the Strategic Research Portfolio
- Can you provide some background on RESAS and on the composition of the Strategic Research Portfolio (e.g., balance among Strategic Research Programme, Innovation Partnerships, Underpinning Capacity, CoEs, SEFARI Gateway)?
- Briefly explain the Governance and management structure of the Strategic Research Programme
1.1 About SEFARI
- Can you tell me a little bit about the expectations of the Scottish Government / RESAS in establishing the SEFARI "brand"?
- How has adoption of the SEFARI collective identity contributed to the quality and relevance of Strategic Research Programme scientific activities and outputs? Can you discuss some examples?
- What improvements would you like to see in the SEFARI contribution to the next iteration of the Strategic Research Programme?
1.2 About Centres of Expertise (CoEs)
- Briefly discuss the key differences between the SEFARI and the CoEs contributions to the Strategic Research Portfolio.
1.3 About the SEFARI Gateway
- What prompted the evolution from CKEI to SEFARI-Gateway? What did the Scottish Government hope the Gateway to achieve?
- How did the Scottish Government envisage the SEFARI Gateway's relationship to (i) RESAS, (ii) the Strategic Research Programme, (iii) SEFARI and (iv) the Centres of Expertise?
- How is the SEFARI Gateway performing since its inauguration? Is it meeting expectations?
- What improvements / additional contributions would you like to see from the SEFARI Gateway in the next iteration of the Strategic Research Portfolio?
2. Questions for MRPs
2.0 Introduction/ Scottish Government, RESAS and the Strategic Research Portfolio
- In which government policy areas is your organisation active?
- How does your organisation interact with Scottish Government policy teams around existing and/or future evidence needs?
- What contribution(s) does your organisation make to the Strategic Research Portfolio?
- How does your organisation deliver both the 'excellence' and 'relevance' agenda of scientific activities as an MRP?
- What are the incentive mechanisms for different types and timescales of scientific knowledge production and exchange within your organisation? How do you measure the outcomes/impacts?
2.1 About SEFARI
- How has the introduction of the SEFARI structure influenced your organisation?
- How do you see your organisation's relationships with the other MRPs? How have these relationships changed since the establishment of the SEFARI structure and identity?
- Who are your key external stakeholders? Has SEFARI changed the way your organisation works with these stakeholders?
2.2 About Centres of Expertise (CoEs)
- How does your organisation work with CoEs (and vice versa)? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the CoE model?
2.3 About the SEFARI Gateway
- Please tell us how you work with the SEFARI Gateway. What are the impacts of SEFARI Gateway so far?
- How do you envisage the SEFARI Gateway's relationship to (i) RESAS, (ii) the Strategic Research Programme, (iii) SEFARI and (iv) the Centres of Expertise?
- What are the key challenges facing the SEFARI Gateway regarding knowledge exchange activities? Can you provide examples?
- Is there anything you would like to see changed to make the system work better?
3. Questions for Centres of Expertise
3.0 Introduction/ Scottish Government, RESAS and the Strategic Research Portfolio
- What contribution(s) does your CoE make to the Strategic Research Portfolio?
- How does your CoE interact with Scottish Government policy teams around existing and/or future evidence needs?
- How does your CoE deliver both the 'excellence' and 'relevance' agenda of scientific activities?
- What are the incentive mechanisms for different types and timescales of scientific knowledge production and exchange within your CoE? How do you measure the outcomes/impacts?
- Who are your key external stakeholders? How does your CoE work with these stakeholders?
3.1 About Centres of Expertise
- How do you view the development of the CoE model? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the model?
- How do you see your CoE's relationships with the other CoEs? How have these relationships changed since the establishment of the CoE model?
3.2 About SEFARI
- How does SEFARI influence your CoE (and vice versa)?
- How does your CoE work with SEFARI (and vice versa)?
- How do you see your CoE's relationships with individual MRPs? How have these relationships changed since the establishment of the SEFARI structure and identity?
- Has SEFARI changed the way your CoE works with external stakeholders?
3.3 About SEFARI Gateway
- Please tell us how you work with the SEFARI Gateway. What are the impacts of SEFARI Gateway so far?
- How do you envisage the SEFARI Gateway's relationship to (i) RESAS, (ii) the Strategic Research Programme, (iii) SEFARI and (iv) the Centres of Expertise?
- What are the key challenges facing the SEFARI Gateway regarding knowledge exchange activities? Can you provide examples?
- What are your recommendations to address these challenges?
- Is there anything you would like to see changed to make the system work better?
4. Questions for SEFARI Gateway
4.0 Introduction/ About SEFARI Gateway
- Please tell us how the SEFARI Gateway operates. What are the impacts of SEFARI Gateway so far? What is your vision for the future of the SEFARI Gateway?
- What prompted the evolution from CKEI to SEFARI-Gateway? What did the Scottish Government hope the Gateway to achieve?
- How does the SEFARI Gateway interact with Scottish Government policy teams around existing and/or future evidence needs?
- What contribution(s) does the SEFARI Gateway make to the Strategic Research Portfolio?
- How do you envisage the SEFARI Gateway's relationship to (i) RESAS, (ii) the Strategic Research Programme, (iii) SEFARI and (iv) the Centres of Expertise?
- How does the SEFARI Gateway currently work with SEFARI (and vice versa)? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the SEFARI structure?
- How does the SEFARI Gateway currently work with CoEs (and vice versa)? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the CoE model?
- Who are your key external stakeholders? How does the SEFARI Gateway work with these stakeholders?
- What are the key challenges facing the SEFARI Gateway regarding knowledge exchange activities? Can you provide examples?
- What are your recommendations to address these challenges?
- Is there anything you would like to see changed to make the system work better?
Contact
Email: csaenra@gov.scot
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