Research & Innovation Supporters' Conference – 14 June 2016.The University of Sheffield Octagon Centre.On 14 June 2016 we ran a one-day conference in the Octagon Centre that was designed specifically for professionals who support research and/or innovation activities – for professionals based in academic departments, in faculties, in Professional Services and in research centres and institutes.At the time this was a new initiative, the purpose of which was threefold:To Increase awareness and understanding of our ambition and strategic direction on research and innovation within a challenging climate, and the critical contribution that individual professionals make and need to make to thisTo share and increase knowledge throughout the R&I professional community – of respective roles, perspectives, systems, processes, topicsTo increase a tangible sense of belonging to a wider communityThe three themesThere were three underlying themes of the conference:Big Picture & Strategy – How professionals can help with the transformation of strategic R&I ambitionsManagerial & Operational – Technical and operational dimensions, for example new R&I support systems and processes, impact, public engagement, PGR, scholarly communicationProfessional Development & Wellbeing – For example, how to be productive not busy, collaboration and culture changeThe full programme of events can be found here.See also the RICOM (Research and Innovation Community) website and Google community, RICOMmunity.

Author(s): Melanie Knight, Richard Hudson, Gwynfor Jones, Patricia Hart, Naomi Halloran, Liz Robinson, Gillian Callaghan, Angela Davies, Jeff Sorrill

DOI: 10.15131/shef.data.c.3578678.v1