Aims and goals

Our aims

• To build a culture of collaboration and research awareness between the two lead organisations, other health care providers and local partners
• To encourage wider collaboration where appropriate to ensure a broad base to support research relevant to population need, i.e. inter-school collaborations and other research centres within the university, the Centre for Children and Youth and the Institute for Urban Affairs and Northamptonshire County Council
• To utilise existing and potential research strengths to build research engagement across Northamptonshire
• To provide networking opportunities for individuals and the development of research teams to support the creation of research sensitive to local need
• To provide an environment in which research and evidence-based practice are embedded in the culture and are regarded as an expectation of all staff, supported by the opportunity for research skills training and development 
• Develop the academic reputation of the Centre through supporting research of national and international excellence, increasing local engagement with delivery of research
• Maximise innovation and enterprise opportunity, building and strengthening relationships with local industries, leisure 'facilities' and sports associations so that they see the county's health as part of their core business
• Research opportunities/environment for post-graduate students
  

Our goals

• To develop the research within the county for the benefit of the local population
• Contribute to the local and regional health and social care community and to relevant aspects of economic development
• Collaboration with local government agencies via existing partnerships and contribution to the strategic objectives of the Local Area Agreement
• Develop the use of research by local health care professionals
• Increase the number of research active staff across the Northamptonshire health community
• To increase the delivery of research across Northamptonshire
• To strengthen links with other local and regional health and social care providers via active collaboration in research projects, leading to further funding bids and the raising of the profile of Northamptonshire nationally
• To increase external research income through accessing relevant external funding streams
• To generate funds so that the centre becomes self-sustaining within two years