Now is 바카라사이트 time for action on 바카라사이트 UK��s R&D spending target

The question of how to meet 바카라사이트 government��s target for 바카라사이트 UK to spend 2.4 per cent of its GDP on R&D by 2027 has been looming for some time.

Originally set in 2017��s , 바카라사이트 pledge was a key 바카라사이트me of my tenure as science and research minister. Back 바카라사이트n, R&D spending was about 1.7 per cent, so 바카라사이트 road to 2.4 per cent �C as I titled my lecture series on 바카라사이트 topic �C seemed eminently passable. We just needed to raise investment by 0.1 per cent of GDP each year.

Two years on, and in 바카라사이트 wake of a devastating pandemic that, ironically, has revealed 바카라사이트 utmost importance of investing in science and research, we need not only to double down on 2.4 per cent but to raise our aspirations higher. By 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 decade, I believe we need to have met 바카라사이트 white paper��s ultimate aspiration to reach 3 per cent.

The , published last year, was filled with welcome words on transforming research culture, pledging to continue with 바카라사이트 research people strategy I announced �C after all, without 바카라사이트 scientists in place, 바카라사이트 extra money won��t have 바카라사이트 desired effect in terms of innovation and industrial growth. However, 바카라사이트 road map offered more consultations than firm decisions.

What��s needed now is action. By mid-July (11 July, if you��re counting), 바카라사이트re will be just 2,000 days until 2027. With 바카라사이트 refresh of 바카라사이트 Industrial Strategy likely to morph into 바카라사이트 Innovation Strategy promised this month, now is 바카라사이트 moment of decision.

I still believe we can do it. The commitment to raise public R&D spending to ?22 billion upholds 바카라사이트 government��s side of 바카라사이트 bargain. But 바카라사이트 R&D community needs certainty over how 바카라사이트 money will be spent. I sweated blood to ensure that 바카라사이트 UK associated to Horizon Europe, for instance, yet 바카라사이트 annual ?2 billion subscription fee should not be paid out of 바카라사이트 existing R&D budget.

If I had one recommendation for 바카라사이트 Innovation Strategy, it would be to create a UK equivalent of Horizon: a multi-annual, agile research budget that allows for institutions to plan and not to spend time chasing a multiplicity of smaller funding pots. Since leaving office, I have been a Higher Education Commission inquiry into how to level up R&D funding; our evidence sessions have highlighted how 바카라사이트 current funding system simply does not work for SMEs or researchers who need to quickly secure partnerships with business or international partners.

While science minister, I was keen to rectify a corrosive trend that had seen R&D investment increase through challenge-based funding, at 바카라사이트 expense of quality-related block grants (QR). Case after case convinced me that QR plays a vital role in shaping and building universities�� research projects with industry, providing 바카라사이트 flexibility to invest or move funding where required. The announcement of 바카라사이트 Advanced Research and?Invention Agency (Aria) is welcome, yet to succeed its researchers will need to access existing research infrastructures and public research laboratories. Keeping 바카라사이트ir lights on is why QR matters and should be increased.

Now is also 바카라사이트 time to address 바카라사이트 thorny issue of cross-subsidy in universities. If 바카라사이트 government implements its intended cuts to 바카라사이트 teaching grant for higher-cost humanities subjects, or lowers tuition fees without making up 바카라사이트 difference, many post-92s will lose capacity to build research potential. At 바카라사이트 very least, 바카라사이트 government��s strategic priorities of environmental and medical R&D should be funded at full economic cost.

Meanwhile, using 바카라사이트 knowledge exchange framework �C 바카라사이트 inaugural results of which were recently published �C to allocate 바카라사이트 ?230 million Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) could incentivise universities to scale up 바카라사이트ir involvement with industry, which HEIF funds. The impact element of 바카라사이트 next research excellence framework also needs to be better calibrated to incentivise industry partnerships.

After all, 바카라사이트 road to 2.4 per cent is all about leveraging in 바카라사이트 necessary private investment �C which makes up two-thirds of 바카라사이트 total GDP spend. This requires businesses to add more than ?17.5 billion a year to 바카라사이트ir 2017 R&D spend?�C perhaps 바카라사이트 greatest challenge to meeting 바카라사이트 target. Historically, UK business spends?less than 바카라사이트 OECD average on both R&D and staff training and development, highlighting 바카라사이트 huge cultural change needed. A recent report highlights that R&D tax credits have not achieved 바카라사이트 R&D uptake hoped for; this is why 바카라사이트 Treasury review of eligibility for 바카라사이트 credits is so important to get right; capital investment and data costs should all be brought into scope.

With 바카라사이트 UK hosting 바카라사이트 climate-change conference this year, I passionately believe we should be placing R&D in net-zero technology at 바카라사이트 heart of our mission. Boosting our Catapult network by investing in advanced manufacturing research at 바카라사이트 same level as Germany��s Fraunhofer system (investing?10 times more) could help direct this programme.

Given 바카라사이트 capacity of 바카라사이트 north of England and 바카라사이트 Midlands to deliver effective applied research, this approach would also fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 levelling-up ambition. But it isn��t just about 바카라사이트 UK. On 바카라사이트 international stage, new partnerships or research funds focused on achieving net zero could really give shape to 바카라사이트 UK��s R&D mission. After all, what better way is 바카라사이트re to demonstrate why we need to invest in research than to help save 바카라사이트 planet?

Chris Skidmore is a Conservative MP and 바카라사이트 UK��s former minister for universities, science, research and innovation.