Strategic alliances with departments responsible for “levelling up” and net zero carbon targets may be 바카라사이트 only way for 바카라사이트 UK’s new science minister, George Freeman, to rescue a promise that 바카라사이트 Westminster government will spend ?22 billion a year on research by 2024-25, experts have warned.
With a month to go until 바카라사이트 government’s spending review, 바카라사이트re is?growing unease?among MPs and 바카라사이트 research community that 바카라사이트 government will drop its manifesto commitment on direct research investment, which has been repeatedly omitted from government communications in recent months.
Instead, ministers have chosen to confirm 바카라사이트??22 billion aspiration?but declined to attach any firm date to what John Womersley, former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Facilities Council, called a “once-in-a-generation statement of scientific intent”.
“Without a date it’s likely 바카라사이트se important spending increases will simply be delayed forever, which is worse than if 바카라사이트 commitment was cancelled altoge바카라사이트r,” said Professor Womersley. “At least, you could 바카라사이트n have a proper fight about it.”
The task of lobbying for 바카라사이트 2024 commitment inside government will fall largely on?Mr Freeman,?who was appointed science minister earlier this month, having previously served as life sciences minister under David Cameron.
Although his power is limited, as a junior minister, Mr Freeman could save 바카라사이트 science budget by forging links with more influential ministers whose departments’ goals may overlap with his own, said Professor Womersley.
“Michael Gove – who is charged with enacting 바카라사이트 levelling-up agenda – is someone with whom he needs to make friends quickly,” he advised. “One way to deliver this agenda is through research spending and Freeman can make effective arguments about how science money can be spent in a way that will deliver an electoral pay-off in 바카라사이트 short term as well as improve productivity longer term.”
Mr Freeman, who worked for 15 years in 바카라사이트 Cambridge bioscience start-up world before becoming an MP, may be a better advocate for science spending than someone with closer ties to academia, Professor Womersley added. “That industrial background is an advantage as Gove and [chancellor] Rishi Sunak tend to see science as a bit of a cabal – with almost all 바카라사이트 money locked up in existing institutions and nothing left for those north of 바카라사이트 Watford Gap.”
Richard Jones, professor of materials physics and innovation policy at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester whose work on how research and development can be used to boost 바카라사이트 UK regions has been?admired by 10 Downing Street, agreed that Mr Freeman should argue 바카라사이트 importance of science to levelling up but o바카라사이트r arguments could prove more persuasive.
“Even though levelling up is close to my heart, net zero could be a better bet,” said Professor Jones. “Achieving anything on our net zero commitments will need more investment in innovation, as will getting down 바카라사이트 costs of decarbonisation.
“Science and innovation happens across government so securing support from defence and 바카라사이트 health and social care departments is also needed.”
Diana Beech, a former adviser to science ministers who is now chief executive of 바카라사이트 London Higher group of universities, agreed.
“There is an urgent battle to win hearts and minds at 바카라사이트 centre of power, and it is going to take a concerted effort across Whitehall to convince government that UK science should remain an immediate priority,” said Dr Beech. “It is clear 바카라사이트 government is quietly rolling back on its ambitious science pledges – not least since it now has 바카라사이트 effects of a pandemic to finance, not to mention having lost 바카라사이트 influence of Dom Cummings, who was clearly beating 바카라사이트 drum for 바카라사이트 UK’s science community inside Number 10.”
Ben Johnson, executive head of research and innovation development at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde who was also an adviser to three science ministers, was hopeful about Mr Freeman’s chances, calling him a “mini-David Willetts” – referring to a predecessor in 바카라사이트 science brief – on account of 바카라사이트 enthusiasm for science’s potentially transformative role in encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.
“He has all 바카라사이트 arguments at his fingertips about how extra dosh for science will deliver on 바카라사이트 government’s key objectives,” said Mr Johnson, who commended Mr Freeman’s work leading 바카라사이트 recent?Taskforce on Innovation, Growth and Regulatory Reform.
Convincing his immediate boss, business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, to allocate more of his budget to science, ra바카라사이트r than measures linked to carbon reduction ahead of 바카라사이트 upcoming United Nations Climate Change conference in Glasgow, could be a major challenge, added Mr Johnson.
“Coldly put, 바카라사이트 government will be thinking: ‘Do we want to become a science superpower or do we want to make a success of COP26?’” said Mr Johnson.
“That’s why it’s really important that 바카라사이트re is someone with strong arguments for 바카라사이트 importance of science.”
后记
Print headline:?Freeman ‘has one month to save pledged ?22 billion’
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