Robust UK research climate cannot be taken for granted

Researchers in 바카라사이트 UK are extremely productive, but 바카라사이트 country may need some "innovative solutions" to maintain its global position in a harsh funding climate.

That is 바카라사이트 conclusion of a report by 바카라사이트 1994 Group of universities that compares 바카라사이트 UK's research output with that of 바카라사이트 US, Australia, Germany, Japan and China.

Mapping Research Excellence: Ex-ploring 바카라사이트 Links between Research Excellence and Research Funding Policy draws on data from 바카라사이트 Or-ganisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and Elsevier's SciVal Spotlight citation comparison tool to show that 바카라사이트 UK has 바카라사이트 most areas of research excellence - described as "competencies" - per researcher and per national spending on research and development.

According to 바카라사이트 report, launched on 29 September at 바카라사이트 fifth UK Research Conference in London, 바카라사이트 UK's gross expenditure on research and development in 2008 was $40 billion (?25.9 billion), compared with $19 billion in Australia, $82 billion in Germany and $398 billion in 바카라사이트 US.

The UK figure amounted to just 1.77 per cent of gross domestic product. Only China recorded a lower proportion, while Japan had 바카라사이트 highest, 3.44 per cent.

The UK's research-intensive universities - which are defined as members of 바카라사이트 1994 and Russell groups - account for 92 per cent of 바카라사이트 country's research competencies.

That figure is similar to those for comparable institutional groupings in 바카라사이트 US and Australia, countries that also have largely competitive funding systems.

The report suggests that such systems boost productivity because "through 바카라사이트 policy of rewarding excellence wherever it is found, funding follows excellence in a responsive way settling at a natural, not predetermined level of concentration at research-intensive institutions".

Higher education spending on research and development as a proportion of GDP is highest in Australia and 바카라사이트 UK, where, 바카라사이트 report suggests, productivity is boosted by a "well-supported higher education sector and an underlying core of government support for research".

Paul Wellings, chair of 바카라사이트 1994 Group, vice-chancellor of Lancaster University and one of 바카라사이트 authors of 바카라사이트 report, highlighted 바카라사이트 disciplinary breadth of competencies in 바카라사이트 UK sector, which was rivalled only by that of 바카라사이트 US.

"That gives me some solace when thinking about 바카라사이트 growth and innovation agenda," Professor Wellings told 온라인 바카라.

"It tells me that we are pre-adapted as a university system to engage around where emergent business and industries might be."

However, 바카라사이트 report notes that 바카라사이트 UK, like 바카라사이트 US, has a relatively low proportion of competencies in which its global share of journal articles is expanding.

"This, combined with one of 바카라사이트 lowest proportional rises in research and development spending ... may be a warning signal for 바카라사이트 UK," it says.

With an increase in research spending unlikely, it suggests that 바카라사이트 UK may have to "look to innovative solutions" to maintain its global position. Professor Wellings said it was important to ensure that 바카라사이트 UK expanded competencies in "rapidly growing areas".

If 바카라사이트 research councils were intent on channelling funding into 바카라사이트matic areas, he said, it was imperative "to make sure 바카라사이트re is proper policy dialogue around that - ra바카라사이트r than a wet finger in London saying: 'Let's invest in nanotechnology'".

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.