Introduction

The ESRC was established by Royal Charter as the 'Social Science Research Council' following the Science and Technology Act 1965. Its name was changed to the Economic and Social Research Council in 1983.

Following the White Paper 'Realising Our Potential' in 1993 the Council's mission has been:

• to promote and support, by any means, high-quality basic, strategic and applied research and postgraduate training in the social sciences;

• to advance knowledge and provide trained social scientists which meet the needs of users and beneficiaries, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom, the effectiveness of public services and policy, and the quality of life;

• to provide advice on, and disseminate knowledge and promote public understanding of, the social sciences.

The Council of the ESRC is chaired by Dr Bruce Smith OBE and composed of the Chief Executive (who is Deputy Chairman) and twelve other members drawn equally from leading researchers within the academic disciplines of social science, and from the users of social science research in business, government and the voluntary sector.

The Council is supported by four boards in the key areas of Research Grants, Research Priorities, Research Resources, and Postgraduate Training.

Achievements in 1996/97

During 1996­97 the Council:

• implemented nine areas of Thematic Priority for the targeting of two-thirds of future funding in key areas;

• launched three new research centres in the area of Innovation and Competitiveness concerned with:

  ­ Organisation and Innovation;

  ­ Innovation and Competitive Environments; and ­ Innovation in Complex Product Systems.

• commissioned two new centres concerned with:

  ­ Social Integration and Exclusion; and

  ­ Globalisation and Regional Political Economy.

• expanded its support for responsive mode research awards concerned with the 'Realising Our Potential' initiative to the value of £1.2 million;

• increased collaborative postgraduate awards with industry to a total of 190 research studentships;

• introduced a new delegated pay and grading structure, including a delayered managerial structure and rationalisation of Divisions; and

• participated with other research councils, the Office of Science and Technology, and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and other employers, in the launch of the 'Concordat on Contract Research Staff Career Management' to improve the position and contribution of research staff on contract employment.

Plans for 1997/98

These include:

• the completion of a major review in consultation with Users of research on the balance between its thematic priorities, and the desirable further development of themes;

• commissioning a new research centre in the area of Knowledge and Skill;

• commissioning new research programmes on Technology and the Virtual Society, on the Causes and Effects of Violence, and on the Changing Nature of Work;

• developing approaches which will allow it to assess the impact of research on policy and practice in key areas; and

• a major research conference to present the findings of new research to leaders in business, industry and government.

Key Performance Targets
	1994/95		1995/96		1996/97		1997/98
Key Measure	Set	Achieved	Set	Achieved	Set	Achieved	Set
Commence funding from recyclable fund for new research or resource centres	2	4	2	3	2	3	2
Establish new research Programmes in key Thematic areas	-	-	-	-	2	2	3
Proportion of Programme expenditure into Thematic Priority areas (%)	-	-	-	-	65	60*	65
Achieve submission rate for PhD theses within 4 years (%)	70	73	70	71	70	75	75
Reduce running costs as a proportion of annual gross expenditure (%)	5	5.9	5	5.5	5	5.4	5.3
* Provisional.