SFI CSET
Annual Report Template
CSET Annual Report Guidelines and Format
(Report must not exceed 100 pages, excluding appendices as outlined)
The objective of the CSET annual report is to capture the vision, plans, activities,
achievements and progress towards the centre’s overall goal in all aspects of the CSET’s
operations during the previous year. The annual report will be used by SFI for progress
reviews, publicity for the CSET and information/data gathering.
It is appreciated that generating the annual report can take a lot of time and resources; to
minimise this SFI have revised the CSET annual report guidelines to help focus the report
and are introducing a page limit to keep it manageable and readable. The annual report
must not exceed 100 pages (excluding appendices as outlined) and should be written in a
concise and clear manner.
SFI CSET Annual Report Headings
The annual report is to be structured to provide information under the headings given in bold
below, the topic areas detailed below by bullet point must be addressed. However additional
relevant information may also be provided.
CONTENTS PAGE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1 page maximum)
The executive summary should outline the vision and goals of the centre as well as the
intellectual and the broader impact of the centre. Include any significant accomplishments
achieved during the previous year and the interaction with industry partners involved with
the centre. The executive summary should be readable by non experts.
CSET LEADERSHIP TEAM
CSET Contact Information
Management Team – Short biosketches can be included. (Please see CSET Governance
document for details on Management team composition).
RESEARCH
a. Overview
Describe the CSET’s overall Strategic Research Plan and objectives, with milestones. This
should include summary of the research programs/strands that have been developed to
realise this plan.
Give a summary of results from previous year and progress made on previously identified
milestones. (Output metrics, e.g. publication lists will be added in Appendices).
b. Research Strands
Each research strand should address the following bullet points:
 Provide information on the strand’s goals ( what the work is intended to accomplish),
 The research strand’s role in support of the centre strategic plan.
 The fundamental research barriers and the methodologies used to address them.
 Description of achievements in previous year. (Can briefly outline achievements in
previous years on road to present position).
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Other relevant work in the field and how this compares.
Plans for next year.
If industry partners are involved, outline benefits to them from this project.
IMPACTS/ INDUSTRY PARTNERS/ TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
 Describe the industrial collaboration portion of the strategic plan.
 Give an overview of the development of industry collaborations over the previous
reporting period.
 For each existing industry partner, Summarise the research and goals of the
collaborations with existing industry partners (1 paragraph each).
 Outline the industry sectors and firms the centre is targeted at and give a description
of how the industry partners input to the CSETs strategic plan and research strands.
 Outline the strategy for the development of existing industry partners, bringing in new
partners, and activities in this area, including involvement by indigenous SMEs, and
also any problems or issues encountered in this area.
 Describe the CSETs plans and processes to bring its existing research into practice.
 Outline the CSETs IP principles and policies and give examples of any technology
transfer over last three years and their impact to date.
LEADERSHIP/ MANAGEMENT OF CENTRE
 Describe the CSET’s organisational strategy and underlying rationale.
 Include Org chart for the centre outlining each person’s roles and responsibilities.
 Describe the internal methods for assessing the quality and impact of the projects.
 Describe the infrastructure available to the centre and any significant changes to this
over the previous year and any infrastructure plans for the next year.
FINANCE AND BUDGET
A detailed budget is not required for the annual report; however an outline should be given
of the fiscal situation and plans regarding the CSET, highlighting any issues. Please provide:
 An outline of the budget breakdown by research strand.
 Outline of the current spend versus budget.
 Analysis of industry partner cost-share (please distinguish between cash and inkind).
 Funding diversity plans for the following year, (See appendix for table detailing
funding diversity for reporting period).
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
 Describe the CSETs overall education and outreach objectives, and the actions
taken during the reporting period to attain these objectives.
 Outline the accomplishments in the CSETs educational activities and any problems
encountered and lessons learned during the reporting period.
 Describe the CSETs plans for education and outreach for the following year.
 Describe how the CSET measures the impacts of its education and outreach
activities. Describe how the work of the CSET has impacted third level education
within the participating institutions.
 Describe internal education and professional development activities undertaken
during the reporting period.
SWOT ANALYSIS (2 pages)
The SWOT analysis is used to analyse the CSET’s key features, determine the major
strengths and major weaknesses, determine if there are areas of development for a CSET
to capitalise on its strengths to deliver an innovation. It will also determine if there any
weaknesses, internal or external that is a threat to its ability to fulfil its vision and goals.
SWOT analysis guidelines:
 Narrow down to key Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
 Place them in priority order under each category
 Prepare a brief written report with more detail on the bullets
 Show progress achieved in dealing with weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
 The SWOT analysis should be communicated to the CSET industry partners for
feedback.
The SWOT analysis diagram listing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
should be done on one page with the more detailed information with progress on page 2.
Note: there any many resources to help in the production of a relevant and useful SWOT
analysis. For an introduction to and background on SWOT analysis, see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis , or,
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05.htm, or,
http://www.businessballs.com/swotanalysisfreetemplate.htm
For a list of example SWOT analyses, http://www.wikiswot.com/SWOT/
Appendices and Tables
Please provide lists of the following. Where a table has been provided, please use that
format and headings. For data analysis purposes SFI may request the following information
in softcopy spreadsheet format.
1. People and partnerships
CSET Research Teams.
Team members associated with the CSET during the reporting period
First
name
Surname
Type*
Institution
Research
Strand
Highest
degree
Gender1
Nationality
CSET
funded
Supervisor2
*In Type please select from the following categories: Lead Principal Investigator, Co- Principal
Investigator, Funded investigator, visiting researcher, Postdoctoral, PhD, MSc, Undergraduate,
Technician, Administrative, Collaborator receiving funds, Collaborator not receiving funds.
1
Information gathered for gender and nationality is for data analysis only. SFI is required to report this
data to the department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Productive Sector Monitoring
Committee, FORFAS and other government bodies.
2
Please provide data of Postdoctoral researchers and Students funded from the CSET award only.
Industry Partners and Contact Names.
Industry Partners
Organisation
type3
3
4
Organisation
name
Location4
Contact
Date
joined
CSET
Date
departed (if
applicable)
First name
Surname
Organisation Type: MNC, SME or other.
Location: City and Country.
Governance Committee and Scientific Advisory Board members.
First name
Governance Committee Members
Surname
Organisation
Position
First name
Scientific Advisory Board Members
Surname
Organisation
Position
Position
2. Outputs
A. Please provide lists of the following which occurred during the reporting period.
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List all CSET Publications using a standard citation format. Please indicate at the top
of the publication list if an open access repository is used for all publications, or what
the open access policy of the CSET is.
List all conferences presentations using a standard citation format.
Workshops or conferences hosted in this period.
Equipment (>50k) funded by the CSET.
Invention Disclosures submitted during reporting period.
Patent applications submitted or granted and License agreements signed.
Spin-out companies created.
List all awards and honours received.
List any media coverage the CSET received, include web links where possible.
Other funding obtained during the year.