Research pooling

Between 2005 and 2023, SFC invested over £155m in 11 Research Pools – discipline-focused groupings of researchers across Scottish institutions that aimed to grow a critical mass of excellent research in Scotland to compete effectively for funding, research staff and doctoral students, both nationally and internationally.

SFC funding supported over 100 Professors, more than 40 Senior Lecturers, nearly 150 Lecturers and over 600 PhD studentships across Scotland.

Independent Review of Scottish Research Pooling Initiative

An independent review considered Research Pools a major contributor to Scotland’s collaborative research culture and critical mass and research excellence in disciplines.

Such has been the success of the Research Pools that they are now fully supported by institutions, and they continue to be an active and important part of the Scottish research landscape.

They cover physics, chemistry, engineering, geosciences /environment & society, life sciences, brain imaging, informatics & computer science, Gaelic language and culture and marine science.

Recognising the importance of a whole system view and coordination, Research Innovation Scotland (RIS) was created as a pan-Scotland collaborative initiative spanning Research Pools, Innovation Centres and Interface to address and promote cross-disciplinary research and innovation. RIS is administered by the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) and delivers a range of activities.

Research pools

• Marine Alliance for Science & Technology for Scotland (MASTS)
• ScotCHEM
• Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES)
• Scottish Imaging Network: A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE)
• Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA)
• Scottish Partnership in Energy and Engineering Research & Innovation (SPEERI)
• Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA)
• Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA)
• Soillse (Gaelic language and culture)