Published on Tue, 21/04/2015 - 12:23
Research Councils (notably the EPSRC) are currently providing notifications of successful awards to PIs only, with a request that the PI confirm the 50% matched funding on their equipment budget within a 3 week deadline. Although it is asked that the Research Office also provide confirmation, the emails are not being copied to the Research Office. This means that there is a risk that reduced equipment budgets are accepted either without due approval via departments (plus Schools where relevant) and the Research Office, or that the 3 week deadline is not met because it is assumed that the Research Office is already aware of the notification.
To address this situation, we have made a request to the Councils that they copy in the Research Office when they send the award e-mails and will let you know how this progresses.