Research And Development Management Association (radma)

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £308,003 (year ending 31 May 2024)
• Success Rate: Approximately 20-25% (fewer than 10 awards from ~40 applications annually)
• Decision Time: 8 weeks (Postgraduate Research Support); Award announcements in July (Doctoral Studies Programme)
• Grant Range: £250 - £28,534 per academic year
• Geographic Focus: UK universities only (for most programmes)

Contact Details

Website: www.radma.net

Email: info@radma.net

Phone: 07768 580664

Address: 1st Floor, The Foundation, Herons Way, Chester Business Park, Chester CH4 9GB

For queries or requests for information, contact the Secretary to the Trustees at info@radma.net or 07546 545 999.

Overview

Founded in 1967 at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, RADMA launched the first European R&D Management Journal in 1970 and was granted charitable status in 2003 (Charity Number: 1098109). With an annual income of approximately £308,000 (2024), RADMA's mission is the “promotion and advancement of education in research and development management.” The charity is co-proprietor, along with John Wiley, of the R&D Management Journal, and proceeds from journal sales are the primary source of funds for grants. RADMA supports Masters and PhD students through doctoral funding, conference attendance scholarships, and bespoke research support. The organisation has supported the R&D management community for over 50 years through its annual conference (started in 1980), publications, and educational funding programmes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Doctoral Studies Programme (Annual call)

• Amount: Up to £26,534 outside London or £28,534 in London per academic year (pro-rata for part-time students)
• Duration: Up to three years' funding
• Target: Prospective or mid-study PhD students at UK universities
• Application Method: Annual call, typically opens in autumn and closes in February
• Award Announcement: July

2. Postgraduate Student Research Support (Rolling basis)

• Project Support: Up to £1,000 for PhD research; up to £500 for Masters research
• Conference Funding: Up to £500 for presenting a paper; £250 for attendance only or presenting a poster
• Eligible Costs: Data collection and analysis, training, associated travel and expenses
• Application Method: Rolling basis with bi-monthly review deadlines (last day of each even month: December, February, April, June, August, October)
• Decision Timeline: Awards announced approximately 8 weeks following the deadline

3. Student Attendance at R&D Management Conference (Annual call)

• Amount: Variable, administered by conference organiser
• Purpose: Support students who would not be able to attend due to lack of finance
• Note: Applications administered via the conference organiser, not directly to RADMA

Priority Areas

RADMA supports research focused on R&D Management, which is specifically concerned with the management of innovation, R&D and technology - not the R&D, technology or innovation itself, but its management. Funded themes include:

• Management and exploitation of scientific and technological activity within firms and public bodies
• Determinants of organisation-level performance in research, development, product design and innovation
• Interaction of organisation-wide processes (e.g., strategy formulation, human resources) with R&D
• Firm behaviour in innovation systems
• Intellectual property strategies
• Technology innovation ecosystems
• Circular economy and sustainability in innovation management
• AI, blockchain, and emerging technology management
• Technology transfer and commercialisation

What They Don't Fund

• Research about R&D, technology or innovation itself (rather than its management)
• Students not studying at UK universities (for most programmes; conference attendance is an exception)
• Retrospective costs (applications must be submitted before the event/activity)
• Additional information submitted after application deadlines

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Governance and Leadership

RADMA is governed by a board of 11 trustees who receive no remuneration. The charity has no employees with total benefits over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

Current Chairman: Dr Jeremy Klein (assumed role in October 2013)

• Director of Technologia Ltd., Cambridge
• Degree in Physics and PhD in Medical Physics from University of Manchester
• MBA from London Business School
• Specialist in technology transfer, technology assessment, R&D management, and technology futures

Trustees include:

• David Probert (Trustee)
• Hugh Cameron (Trustee)
• Professor Fiona Lettice (Trustee)
• Dr Steve Bone (Trustee)
• Dr Allison Haitz (Trustee)
• Professor Saeema Ahmed-Kristensen (Trustee)
• Professor Rick Mitchell (Trustee)

Past Leadership: Professor Alan Pearson (founding editor and former chairman)

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Doctoral Studies Programme:

• Applications typically open in autumn and close in February
• Submit via email to info@radma.net as Word or PDF files
• Must be supported by PhD supervisor with signed letters of support required
• Applicants awaiting university acceptance can still apply
• Separate applications required if applying to multiple universities

Postgraduate Student Research Support:

• Rolling basis with bi-monthly reviews
• Deadlines: Last day of the previous month (e.g., 31 December for January review)
• Submit to info@radma.net as Word or PDF files
• Review months: January, March, May, July, September, November

Conference Attendance:

• Applications administered by the conference organiser
• Must apply before the conference (no retrospective funding)
• Can apply even if not studying at a UK university

Important: RADMA cannot accept additional information once the deadline has passed.

Decision Timeline

Doctoral Studies Programme:

• Applications close: February
• Review process: Multi-stage (see below)
• Awards announced: July

Postgraduate Student Research Support:

• Application deadline: Last day of month before review (e.g., 31 December for January review)
• Awards announced: Approximately 8 weeks following deadline (e.g., end of February for January review)

Review Process

Doctoral Studies Applications:

1. Initial review by two non-Trustee experts in R&D Management
2. Shortlist reviewed by two RADMA Trustees
3. Final shortlist validated by at least one other Trustee

Postgraduate Research Support Applications:

• Reviewed by two RADMA Trustees

Success Rates

• Approximately 40 applications received annually
• Fewer than 10 awards typically made
• Success rate: Approximately 20-25%
• No fixed number of awards; depends on annual budget and application quality

Eligibility Requirements

Core Requirements:

• Must study R&D Management at a UK university (for Doctoral and Postgraduate Research Support programmes)
• Typically requires a Masters degree in a relevant field or an excellent first degree or equivalent
• Research must focus on management of innovation, R&D, and technology processes

Research Alignment:

Research must explore issues related to:

1. Management of scientific/technological activities
2. Organizational performance in research and innovation
3. Interaction between organizational processes and R&D
4. Relationship between organizational activities and innovation systems

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated in public materials. Applicants should contact RADMA directly at info@radma.net for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

What RADMA Looks For

The main criteria for funding decisions are:

1. Quality and innovativeness of the research
2. Relevance to R&D Management (as defined by RADMA)
3. Institution at which the student is studying

Critical Alignment Factor

Applicants must ensure their research focuses on the management of innovation, R&D, and technology - not the innovation/technology itself. RADMA explicitly states: "R&D Management is concerned with the management of innovation, R&D and technology, but not with the R&D, technology or innovation itself – just its management."

Recent Successful Projects

Examples of 2024-2025 Doctoral Studies Award recipients demonstrate successful research themes:

• Qi Ang Du (Cambridge): “Intellectual Property Strategies in Sharing Economy”
• Priya Saikumar (Oxford): “Innovation Management for Circularity in ICT Sector”
• Jan-Gero Hannemann (Cambridge): “Decentralised Licensing in AI and Blockchain Era”

These examples show RADMA's interest in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary topics at the intersection of technology, management, and innovation.

Application Best Practices

• Read funding terms and conditions thoroughly before applying
• Ensure supervisor support and obtain signed letters of support (Doctoral Studies)
• Clearly demonstrate how research aligns with R&D Management definition
• Provide comprehensive, clear application - no additional information can be submitted after deadline
• Apply early given competitive success rates
• Cannot fund retrospectively - ensure application is submitted before the activity/event

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on management, not technology: Your research must examine how innovation/R&D is managed, not the innovation itself - this is the most common misalignment
• Success is competitive: With only 20-25% of applicants funded, quality and innovation are essential
• Timing matters: Cannot submit additional materials after deadline; ensure complete applications
• Supervisor support is crucial: For Doctoral Studies, signed letters of support from supervisors are required
• UK university requirement: Most programmes require study at a UK university
• Bi-monthly opportunities: Postgraduate Research Support has six review cycles annually, providing multiple application opportunities
• Institutional reputation counts: The institution where you're studying is one of three main funding criteria
• Emerging themes welcome: Recent awards show RADMA's interest in contemporary issues like AI, blockchain, circular economy, and IP strategies

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Race Against Dementia
• The Armourers and Brasiers' Gauntlet Trust
• Rosetrees Trust
• Westminster Medical School Research Trust
• The Cambridge Political Economy Society Trust
• Mental Health Research UK
• John Innes Foundation
• BMA Foundation
• SIGHT RESEARCH UK
• Sir Halley Stewart Trust

References

1. RADMA Official Website - Welcome Page: https://radma.net/
2. RADMA About Page: https://radma.net/about/
3. RADMA Funding Opportunities: https://radma.net/funding-opportunities/
4. RADMA Frequently Asked Questions: https://radma.net/frequently-asked-questions/
5. RADMA Doctoral Studies Programme Page: https://radma.net/funding-opportunities-list/doctoral-studies-programme/
6. RADMA Postgraduate Student Research Support Page: https://radma.net/funding-opportunities-list/postgraduate-student-research-support/
7. RADMA Awarded Funding Page: https://radma.net/awarded-funding/
8. Charity Commission Register - RADMA (Charity Number 1098109): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/?regId=1098109
9. R&D Today - About RADMA: https://www.rndtoday.co.uk/radma/
10. R&D Today - New RADMA trustees welcomed: https://www.rndtoday.co.uk/latest-news/new-radma-trustees-welcomed/
11. R&D Today - 2025 RADMA Doctoral Study Programme Awards: https://www.rndtoday.co.uk/latest-news/2025-radma-doctoral-study-programme-awards/