DARD Directed Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Research Work Programme 2012/13

The DARD Evidence and Innovation Strategy (EIS) published in 2009, provides a high-level framework for DARD’s evidence gathering and innovation support activities (2009-2013). The detailed activities are co-ordinated through four Programme Management Boards (PMBs), broadly aligned to DARD’s Strategic Goals, which report to an over-arching Evidence and Innovation Priorities Group (EIPG).  EIPG decides the priority needs and, ultimately, which activities can be funded in any particular year.

The DARD Directed AFBI Research Work Programme 2012/13 outlines our priority needs for the 2012/13 financial year and requests research proposals from AFBI to address these.

The Work Programme was informed by our second annual Stakeholder Forum on 28 September 2011.  All of the key issues highlighted by stakeholders were considered by the PMBs and EIPG but a number of these did not make it through to the final list due to budget constraints. Other options for addressing these needs include DARD-funded postgraduate projects and the Research Challenge Fund.

The DARD Directed AFBI Research Work Programme 2012/13, Exemplar Research Concept Note and Full Format Proposal form can be downloaded at the links below.  Also available are details of approved projects from 2011/12.

For further information contact:

Research Policy Branch
Science, Evidence and Innovation Policy Division
DARD
Room 359, Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Ballymiscaw
BELFAST
BT4 3SB

Tel: 028 9052 5036
Email: wayne.morrison@dardni.gov.uk