The UKCRC aims to promote the vitality, quality and impact of Computing Research in the UK. Its members are internationally leading computer researchers drawn from both academia and industry.

The UKCRC was formed in November 2002. It is an Expert Panel of the British Computer Society, the Council of Professors and Heads of Computing and the Institution of Engineering & Technology. For further information on these institutions please Click Here.

By contributing to policy formation within these three key national bodies, UKCRC enables UK Computing Research to speak with a single voice.

The UKCRC intends to pursue the following goals in the medium to long term.

Advancement of the science and application of computing, particularly by contributions of UK researchers, as recognised at the highest international level of excellence

The transfer of science, technology and experimental results to other branches of science, and to industry, commerce and administration in the public and private sectors, particularly in the improvement of system development processes.

Promote a cohesive and effective sense of community among individuals and groups involved in UK computing research. Engage with other bodies, representing both computing and cognate disciplines, to achieve this. Support the BCS, CPHC and IET in their respective roles.

Improvement of the impact of UK computing research, for instance, by promoting the formation of internationally competitive research teams both within single institutions and via national and international collaboration.

Working in partnership with funding bodies, identify the most productive ways to use the limited funding for computing research to stimulate the greatest volume of high-quality research in strategically important areas. This may involve: supporting critical mass groupings of the highest quality researchers, constructing repositories of challenge problems and interoperable tools, supporting the long-term development of research platforms, establishing long-term programmes for the evaluation of tools and platforms, and promoting collaborations with other disciplines and with user communities.

Working in partnership with other bodies, to assist in the creation of new funding opportunities for UK computing research. The grand challenges are one source of ideas for new funding programmes. We should also encourage UK computing researchers to look outside their traditional funding sources, eg to agencies for other disciplines, via collaborative projects with those disciplines or user communities; to government strategic programmes; to charitable trusts; to industry; and to public and private agencies in Europe, the USA and other countries.

Promotion of the grand challenges, as a contribution to the international development of our science, as a stimulus to the research community's strategic thinking about research directions and to promote long-term, fundamental research. We will promote both the already identified grand challenges and the formulation of new grand challenges.

Raise the worldwide visibility and reputation of UK computing research, in particular, by encouraging UK computing researchers to promote the public understanding of computing, and by engaging in consultations and related activities.