UK Systems-NET - enabling a strategic and long lasting alliance to provide coordination and capability shaping in systems engineering

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Systems Engineering is concerned with systems thinking and taking a systems approach to the transformation of the UK's manufacturing and service industries. It brings together high-value engineering disciplines whose products could deliver a step change in business benefit and provide the urgent transformational changes/new approaches needed by industry in order to survive and secure a competitive edge. Unfortunately, technology alone cannot provide the answers - instead systems engineering has the potential to deliver innovative solutions through the integration of people, processes, technologies and business practice. The term 'Systems engineering' is used here, to indicate the broad area of relevant research including complexity science, systems science and systems engineering, and has deliberately steered clear of a precise definition. Systems engineering spans the fields of aerospace, automotive, biological systems, built environment, construction, cyber-security, defence, energy, environment, healthcare, homeland security, manufacturing, rail, security, transport, utilities (gas electricity & water). Whilst aspects of systems research in the UK are broad, multi-disciplinary and vibrant, it urgently needs to develop coherence, leadership and focus to stay ahead of competition from other countries. In order to improve the UK's standing in the field, the UK urgently needs to develop more potential future leaders (both in academia and industry). The proposed systems network (Systems-NET) will enable a strategic and long lasting alliance with a view towards providing coordination and capability shaping of systems engineering within the UK as well as fostering development of future academic and industry leaders. Systems-NET is founded on the need to focus basic research at TRL 1-4, complemented by a strategically defined portfolio of network activity in applied research and technology transfer, building upon work of the EPSRC systems workshops within the EPSRC landscape of developing capability, shaping leaders for the future and formulating Grand Challenges for the UK's research community. The plan is to deliver a transformative route to safeguard long-term sustainability of systems engineering in the UK.