This is exemplified by our dedicated EU Networking Task Force that drives participation in EU-funded research through targeted networking and proactive matching of researchers with FP7 and Horizon2020 research calls. This strategy is systematically supported by the dedicated EU Funding Support office within the UoB Research and Innovation Services, further enhanced by the University of Birmingham EU office in Brussels, opened in 2010, which provides a venue for UoB academics to meet with collaborators for EU projects.
The office facilitates direct input into EU research policy, connections with European institutions including the EU’s Joint Research Centre, as well as face-to-face meetings with EU stakeholders, thereby enhancing our ability to form pan-European partnerships and respond to calls in a most timely and effective manner. Reflecting the success of this strategy, the last EU monitoring report (2012) has stated that the University of Birmingham has advanced to 24th place amongst all HEIs taking part in FP7 in terms of signed agreements, with the European Commission making a special note of our progress: ‘The biggest jump was demonstrated by the University of Birmingham (UK) - from 37th position in 2011 to 24th position in 2012’.