Table 1

Questions to interviewees drawn from the literature reviewed

Selection
Pressures on researchers to anticipate their goals in research applications
Whether a research application was necessary before 1970
The impact of the peer review process on developments in research
Whether research before 1970 would be accepted with the current peer review system
Funding
Priorities for funding
Changes in the funding environment within the UK
Ways to manage limited funding sources in the UK

Quality of research
Experience of cross disciplinary working
Interpretation of the term blue skies research
Financial support to be allocated to blue skies research

Process of discovery
The commercialisation of research activity
The ingredients in a researcher and the environment needed for discovery
Personal experience of the environment that influenced the process of discovery


Linden Journal of Biomedical Discovery and Collaboration 2008 3:3   doi:10.1186/1747-5333-3-3