There is a pressing and complex challenge to address threats to security which the research community has substantial capacity to address.
The Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security Research (PaCCS) was created in order to respond to this challenge. It was established by RCUK (now UKRI) in 2008 as the Global Uncertainties Programme with an aim of delivering high quality and cutting edge research to help improve our understanding of current and future global security challenges.
With a historic focus on broader areas of global uncertainty, the partnership presently focuses on the core areas of conflict, cybersecurity, and transnational organised crime. Our team works to support research, to build connections amongst our research community, and to explore the results of UKRI-funded research projects in our core areas, with the aim of facilitating knowledge translation and research impact.
PaCCS has supported collaboration by bringing together researchers from across disciplines to work together on innovative research projects. By creating opportunities for knowledge exchange between government, industry and the third sector, activities funded under PaCCS continue to deliver impact beyond the academic community.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) are core members of the Partnership. Meanwhile, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) are affiliated members.
The Partnership is currently supported by a Research Integrator for the Transnational Organised Crime Theme hosted by the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge, and staff. Throughout its history, PaCCS research has previously been supported by an AHRC-ESRC Conflict Theme Lead Fellow, and by nine leading academics who were previously appointed as Leadership Fellows to provide leadership to the Partnership and conduct high quality research.
While UKRI remains committed to supporting research in the areas of conflict, crime and security research, as of August 2018, these activities are no longer commissioned under PaCCS. Those seeking new research opportunities in these fields should instead visit AHRC, ESRC and EPSRC. PaCCS will continue to communicate and engage with members of our networks, researchers, and policy communities and will support the ongoing work of our TNOC researchers until the planned conclusion of this investment on 31 December 2021. As the PaCCS team progresses towards the conclusion of our work, our main priority will be to synthesise and disseminate the findings of past projects accredited through PaCCS and the Global Uncertainties Programme, and generate evidence of impact.
