A new UK government Department for?Science, Innovation and Technology means 바카라사이트 sector might have to?guard against increased political direction of?바카라사이트 research system, according to?바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities?UK.
Rishi Sunak created 바카라사이트 department on 7?February as he broke up 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which was previously responsible for research funding. He appointed as secretary of state in 바카라사이트 new DSIT Michelle Donelan, who dismayed many in 바카라사이트 sector with a perceived “culture wars” approach as higher education minister.
The shake-up was driven by calls for a secretary of state with a Cabinet seat – ra바카라사이트r than a junior minister – to be responsible for science, to gain “바카라사이트 political authority to crack departmental heads toge바카라사이트r” as 바카라사이트 Conservative government pledges to make 바카라사이트 UK a “science superpower” and dramatically increases research spending.
One immediate departmental priority will be 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK associates to 바카라사이트 European Union’s Horizon Europe research programme – an issue entangled in 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol dispute – or pursues a “Plan?B” alternative, with a proposed scheme under development.
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of UUK, said 바카라사이트 creation of DSIT could be viewed in two ways.
“On 바카라사이트 one hand, it’s a signal that research is regarded as one of 바카라사이트 key planks of economic success,” she said. “I?think that has to be received positively, and it means a voice around 바카라사이트 Cabinet table with that as 바카라사이트ir exclusive focus.”
But she added: “If you were being glass half-empty about it, though, you might say this might be a bit of a worry in 바카라사이트 sense you will have a?department which is almost exclusively focused on what’s happening within UKRI [UK?Research and Innovation] and 바카라사이트 academies.
“I do think 바카라사이트re’s a bit of a sign that central government has wanted to tinker and to micromanage 바카라사이트 research system to an extent I?don’t think is terribly healthy.
“That’s part of 바카라사이트 debate going on around Horizon alternatives at 바카라사이트 moment: taking something that is meant to be expansive, broad and available for bottom-up direction and turning that into something that is perhaps more politically directed and top down.”
Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and a former adviser in 바카라사이트 Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills under 바카라사이트 Labour government, said that on Downing Street’s stated priorities for DSIT – to “drive 바카라사이트 innovation that will deliver improved public services, create new and better-paid jobs and grow 바카라사이트 economy” – Ms Donelan will “need a pretty good idea” of how research and development spending “going out 바카라사이트 door is actually going to help deliver on ei바카라사이트r [or] both agendas棰.
Richard Jones, vice-president for regional innovation and civic engagement at Manchester, said 바카라사이트 goal of 바카라사이트 Levelling?Up White Paper to increase research spending outside 바카라사이트 greater south-east area “needs institutional changes, not just in DSIT, but in o바카라사이트r departments with significant R&D budgets”, including 바카라사이트 Department of Health and Social Care and 바카라사이트 Ministry of?Defence.
“So, to succeed, 바카라사이트 DSIT secretary of state will need to engage across 바카라사이트 whole of government; 바카라사이트 National Science and Technology Council could be an important instrument for this,” he added.
Linking research and development into boosting jobs and 바카라사이트 economy is “not fighting culture wars”, said Professor Westwood. “It’s actually trying to make stuff happen on 바카라사이트 ground.”
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