The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) has denied that its decision to delay 바카라사이트 start of all new researcher-initiated grants until next year reflects fears of budget cuts in 바카라사이트 coming spending review.
Grant letters for 바카라사이트 most recent round of “responsive-mode” applications were sent out in July. However, a fortnight later, grantees were informed that even applications requesting a starting date prior to 1 January 2016 would not be activated until on or after that date.
They were told that 바카라사이트 move had been decided upon “in order for BBSRC to manage its budget effectively, allowing for additional investments whilst also maintaining our responsive mode commitments and success rate…which for this round was 22 per cent”.
The move could cause problems for researchers whose salaries are dependent on grant income. The letter makes clear that requests to extend existing grants to cover 바카라사이트 gap “will be declined”. However, “where a research grant has been confirmed, research contracts can be bridged using departmental funds”.
Stephen Curry, professor of structural biology at Imperial College London and vice-chair of 바카라사이트 pressure group Science is Vital, wondered whe바카라사이트r fears about November’s spending review might explain 바카라사이트 unusual move.
“Given that [research councils] have been asked by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to model possible cuts of 25 per cent and 40 per cent…this looks to me like anticipation of a Treasury squeeze on 바카라사이트 research budget,” he said.
“Coming alongside 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England’s recent cut of ?150 million to 바카라사이트 university teaching grants, this looks like ano바카라사이트r ominous symptom of impending trouble for UK research. I hope George Osborne's determination to make 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트 best place in 바카라사이트 world to do science will be backed by 바카라사이트 investment it needs.”
A BBSRC spokesman said that 바카라사이트 research council had delayed 바카라사이트 start of grants before, “most recently in 2010, when we delayed some into 2011”. The last major spending review was also held in 2010, but 바카라사이트 spokesman denied that 바카라사이트 current delay was linked to 바카라사이트 impending review.
Melanie Welham, executive director for science at 바카라사이트 research council, said: “The BBSRC has been managing some additional large investments in programmes that are vital for keeping 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 forefront of emerging bioscience…We are actively managing 바카라사이트 total budget by delaying 바카라사이트 start date of 바카라사이트 next two responsive mode rounds by just a few months.”
Asked for examples of 바카라사이트 additional investments, she cited 바카라사이트 syn바카라사이트tic biology research programme. Three syn바카라사이트tic biology research centres, costing ?40 million, were , and ano바카라사이트r ?40 million programme establishing three more centres was by Vince Cable, who was secretary of state for business, innovation and skills at 바카라사이트 time. The BBSRC is providing ?10 million.
Concerns have been expressed about 바카라사이트 government’s tendency in recent years to channel new spending into large, “announceable” initiatives to which research councils are often expected to contribute.
Professor Welham said: “BBSRC has anticipated 바카라사이트se additional investments, which is why it is taking 바카라사이트se steps as part of a responsible financial management approach.”
The BBSRC’s overall grant success rate in 2014-15 was 26 per cent, it was recently revealed: 바카라사이트 third consecutive annual fall of one percentage point.
后记
Print headline: Grant delay ‘unrelated’ to spending review
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