Economic Impact

The STFC has undertaken a project to investigate the Economic Impact of the SRS at the DSIC over its lifetime. This project will be published in April 2008.

This is part of broader UK Government and Research Councils projects to define the economic impact of Research Council funding. In addition, the STFC has been defining metrics to measure and maximise the Economic Impact of the council and its campuses.

This study is one of three reports which will outline the Economic Impact of research council funding and large facilities to the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). These reports will shape future decisions on the establishment of new large scientific facilities in the UK.

Using the DIUS agreed definitions of Economic Impact, examples of how the Synchrotron Radiation Source impacts are:

New or improved products, processes, services (for industry) 

The SRS has impacted industry's capabilities via a number of routes. For example, commercial companies can use the SRS to solve problems which could not be solved through conventional techniques. Numerous industrial partners have also supplied products to the SRS, due to the advanced nature of the required technology; this, in turn, has pushed the boundaries of their capabilities. 

The establishment of new businesses

The SRS has contributed to the creation of new businesses through spinning out several companies based on the various technologies associated with the SRS. Direct impacts arise from revenues generated by licences or spin out companies or services that exploit the technology and knowledge developed at the SRS. In addition, there are several cases in which users of the SRS themselves have gone on to create companies based on experience gained using the facility. Daresbury SIC also hosts several companies in the Daresbury Innovation Centre which are aligned closely to SRS science or technology and which are supported by scientists from the SRS. 

Improvement of Public Services

Science output from the SRS has impacted in several sectors, most notably the Biomedical sector through its contribution to drug discovery. This has been due to the development of protein crystallography which was pioneered at the SRS. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies use the SRS PX capability and insights from protein structures routinely to guide some early aspects of drug development. Wider, and potentially larger, economic benefits arise from a contribution to the cost effectiveness of new drug development and on the enhanced quality of life and social impacts arising from novel, more effective therapeutics.

The production of highly qualified people

The SRS has contributed to the production of highly qualified people through a number of routes. Over its lifetime the SRS has been responsible for the high tech training of thousands of users and research carried out on the SRS has contributed to hundreds of students gaining PhDs or degrees. Many SRS staff have transferred their highly specialised knowledge when they have taken up positions at other synchrotron sources, such as the ESRF in Grenoble. As the world's first synchrotron radiation facility, the SRS contributed hugely to the world wide growth of other synchrotron radiation facilities which now number 75 through the transfer of the skills and knowledge by its staff. A significant amount of advisory committees for synchrotrons around the world have contained SRS staff.