Sector knowledge and support

Automotive

The University of Bath commissioned WECD to undertake background research and analysis (market and economic impact assessment) to inform University decisions to invest (and seek additional external investment) of a world-class Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS) at the University of Bath.

The IAAPS would build on the achievements of the University’s Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre (PVRC) to deliver transformational R&D for future generations of low carbon vehicles (such as electric, hybrid and alternatively fuelled cars). Facilities would be used by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Small & Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) and supply chains, including other research centres and higher education institutions.

Consultations with researchers and industry and our team’s knowledge enables us to map out technologies and processes in the automotive sector that could be affected by the research undertaken by the Institute. We used this mapping to build a bespoke economic model to establish the potential impacts (market, economic and environmental) arising from this research on the automotive sector, the UK and local economy.

To further support the economic and business case for public funding our team also benchmarked the Institute’s potential positioning among similar research centres in the UK.

Clean energy - Low-Cost Nuclear technologies and assessment of the potential for the UK Market

WECD was commissioned to undertake market research related to nuclear energy technologies – Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

The research explored the global market for SMRs and produced estimates of the global market share of a UK SMR design (utilising International Energy Agency and NESO Future Energy Scenarios). Assessment of the market for SMR technologies was based on scenario modelling (including sensitivity analysis informed by discussions with the industry), estimating both the global and the UK markets for nuclear generated capacity (including new build capacity). Applying speed of market penetration and market share assumptions on these estimates provided an assessment of the market for SMR capacity. Market share assumptions for UK SMR in the wider SMR market were then used to estimate the potential market value of UK SMR exports.

A high-level assessment of economic benefits was also produced (in terms of Gross Value Added, jobs and exports) arising for the UK economy from various alternatives to develop SMRs for deployment in the UK. Options development was based on information provided by UKRI and DESNZ (the client group) and consultations with the key industrial and academic partners of the project. This information included estimates of the cost of SMR (design and development work), and the number of units that could be deployed following the completion of the design work.

The market and economic assessments also drew on systematic literature review, desk-based research into clean energy and nuclear investments in Canada, France, Russia, South Korea and the United States and in-depth interviews with scientists, academics, sector experts (e.g. NIRO and NIRAB) and industry (e.g. Rolls Royce).

Low Carbon Vehicles

To further support the economic and business case for public funding our team also benchmarked the Institute’s potential positioning among similar research centres in the UK.

Circular economy

UKRI EPSRC commissioned WECD to review the Outcomes and Impacts of the UKRI Plastics Research and Innovation Fund (PRIF) – a £20 million programme aiming to contribute to tackling the issue of plastic waste, and support a move towards more circular economic and sustainable approaches to plastic production, use, and disposal.

The programme funded 65 projects via three funding streams: leadership and knowledge exchange, research(university)-led ‘creativity’ funding, and industry-led ‘innovation’. The projects include 8 academic-led projects, and 53 business-led projects.

The delivery of the programme has been based on multi-agency engagement involving a number of organisations working together. These have included EPSRC, NERC, Innovate UK, WRAP and the Knowledge Transfer Network, as well as an investor partnership with Sky Ocean Ventures.

Our analysis established that found that that 1 in 2 of jobs created with the support of the fund were long-term high value added jobs. The funding also supported knowledge transfer partnerships and secondments, internships and apprenticeships.

Project activities funded by the Fund have also resulted in approximately: 7,121 tonnes of plastics being diverted from landfill and incineration, or ending up as pollution; and, 5.7 million kg of reduced CO2 emissions.

Furthermore, a significant volume of academic research outputs in the area of reducing plastic waste (particularly single-use plastic) have a high potential to generate additional environmental benefits. The Fund is also supporting the development of processes that are certain to improve recycling and waste managements in the future, for example, by adapting current processes to more effective recycling of hard to recycle materials such as textile.

Health

In England, general practices are incentivised through two main schemes:

Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF)
Investment and Impact Fund (IIF)

These schemes aim to enhance healthcare delivery and patient outcomes by incentivising continuous improvement in clinical care and public health delivery. Practices that achieve the targets set in these schemes receive additional income to their core funding. On behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) WECD conducted a thorough analysis of the over 1,000 responses to the Government consultation of the two frameworks.