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AFIRE
A series of talks and discussions for funders interested in formal experiments and evaluations of innovations in the research and innovation funding system
A series of talks and discussions for funders interested in formal experiments and evaluations of innovations in the research and innovation funding system, part of RoRI’s AFIRE programme: an Accelerator For Innovation & Research Funding Experimentation.
In partnership with the Innovation Growth Lab (IGL).
23 October 2024 00:00 PDT / 08:00 BST / 09:00 CEST Anders Smith, Villum Foundation
Villum Foundation is a philanthropic foundation that supports technical and scientific research and education as well as environmental, social and cultural projects in Denmark and internationally. In 2023, Villum Foundation allocated EUR 153 million in grants.
This talk will give an overview of the Villum Experiment grant programme, which targets research proposals out of the ordinary that challenge the norm and have the potential to fundamentally change the way we approach important topics.
Evaluation is double-blind: the review panel only sees an anonymous research proposal; the panel doesn’t interact with each other, and the identity of the review panel is not disclosed.
The talk will discuss the Foundation’s experiences with the programme, and its reception among applicants and reviewers.
Anders Smith received his PhD in physics from the University of Copenhagen. He has worked in publishing, research and research administration at, among other places, Risø National Laboratory and the Technical University of Denmark. He has also served as a member of the Danish Board on Research Misconduct. For the past five years he has been Head of programme at the Danish philanthropic foundation Villum Foundation.
20 November 2024 07:00 PST / 15:00 GMT / 16:00 CETAlice Wu, Federation of American Scientists
18 December 2024 07:00 PST / 15:00 GMT / 16:00 CETRachel Kendal, Project Leader and Principal Investigator CES Transformation Fund
Speakers for February, March and April 2025 to be announced soon
All events are online and take place under the Chatham House rule. The meeting will provide an informal, high-trust environment in which the pros, cons and uncertainties of more experimental approaches to R&I funding can be shared and discussed among peers in the research and innovation funding community.
The meeting is by invitation only. Please register your interest by completing this brief form, or email Tom Stafford, AFIRE programme lead (t.stafford@sheffield.ac.uk), with any queries. A Zoom link and final agenda will be circulated in advance of each event.