Evaluation of the Cardiff University Brain Research Centre

Descriptions

Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) is set to become one of Europe’s top facilities for brain imaging. The new CUBRIC was opened by Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II on 7th June 2016, in a new purpose-built facility on the Maindy Road campus in Cardiff University. CUBRIC brings together world-leading expertise in brain mapping, brain imaging and brain stimulation. The centre intends to play a pivotal role in the global endeavours to better understand the causes of neurological and psychiatric conditions such as dementia, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis, so as to yield vital clues for the development of better treatments.CUBRIC also intends to stimulate and sustain further economic benefits and jobs in Wales, focused around its Research, Development and Innovation activities (RD&I). RD&I within the ‘Life Sciences and Health’ sector are significant economic activities in Wales, as recognised in the Welsh Government Smart Specialisation Strategy .The new centre has secured an investment from the Welsh Government through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This M£4.5 award under the ‘CUBRIC2 Operation’ provides capital funding towards the new CUBRIC building.CUBRIC is required to undertake external evaluations to provide supporting evidence for how the Operation is delivering against its aims, and how it contributes to the wider objectives of European Structural Funds and Welsh Government Policy in Wales. This document outlines the requirements of the external evaluation, which is expected in two-phases:Phase 1 - An inception evaluation, to be completed by February 2017Phase 2- A final evaluation. Date to be agreed.The CUBRIC team at Cardiff University is seeking a professional company/ organisation with previous demonstrable experience in conducting project evaluations on similar large projects, in particular ERDF or research infrastructure projects, to undertake both stages of the evaluation.An independent external evaluation will also be of benefit to Cardiff University and other major investors in the new CUBRIC facility, to better understand the context in which CUBRIC is operating and may continue to develop (in Wales, nationally and internationally), and the extent to which CUBRIC is contributing to a range of short, medium and long-term objectives of various stakeholders.