16 August 2019 
Rachel Ward, Learning and Development Manager
You may know that ARMA (with BUFDG) have run a number of GCRF Due Diligence events over the past 2 years. A common plea from delegates at these events is that we work together more as a sector to streamline the due diligence process, reducing inefficiencies for UK Research Organisations and overseas partners alike, and making the process of completing a due diligence questionnaire less onerous for our partners.
ARMA and UKRI are holding a workshop aimed at creating a unified due diligence questionnaire and associated guidance. The plan is to co-develop this questionnaire with UK and LMIC Research Organisations and to gain broad agreement to its use across the sector. This questionnaire will subsequently be recommended by UKRI for use in the due diligence process. It’s important that we have a range of views consulted and that Finance input is included in this.
The event will take place on October 15th in Newcastle, and will be led by ARMA. In order to allow ARMA to manage numbers and ensure a suitable mix of expertise and view points, interested delegates will be required to express an interest in attending by September 6th. You can do this by clicking on the link provided below and completing the required information. Delegates will be notified of whether or not they have been assigned a place by September 16th. There is no fee for attendance.
It is important that delegates have a good understanding of their institution’s risk appetite and current due diligence processes. Whilst you may not ultimately be the decision maker for whether your institution will adopt the unified questionnaire you should have sufficient understanding of your decision makers’ likely viewpoint and authority to speak on their behalf in principle. It is therefore highly recommended that you discuss your due diligence process and questionnaire with your Director of Research, Director of Finance and/or other key institutional decision makers in advance of attending the workshop. At this stage there you will not be asked to commit your institution to adopt the unified questionnaire.
Click here to submit your expression of interest to attend. For any queries, please contact Rachel
