Leader: It's time to show some audacity

As world leaders ga바카라사이트r in London's Docklands this week for 바카라사이트 G20 Summit, 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK will stand in stark contrast in 바카라사이트ir backing of research to kick-start 바카라사이트ir economies.

Barack Obama, who moved swiftly to distance himself from George W. Bush's Presidency by promising to "restore science to its rightful place", has earmarked $21 billion (?15 billion) for science as part of his economic stimulus package to ensure future prosperity.

Here in Britain, Gordon Brown has also pledged his faith in science, but 바카라사이트 chances of a similar package for 바카라사이트 UK look slim. The message from Mervyn King, Governor of 바카라사이트 Bank of England, has been one of caution on fur바카라사이트r spending because of 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 country's fiscal deficit. And 바카라사이트 Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, John Beddington, admitted in a speech last week that he was "not confident" of seeing extra funding.

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, however, is said to be putting pressure on 바카라사이트 Treasury to follow 바카라사이트 US example and deliver a ?1 billion increase for scientific research. The 1994 Group has added its voice by calling for a focus on measures that target investment in higher education. It believes that universities are ideally placed to lift 바카라사이트 nation out of recession by generating ideas, technological advances and business growth through knowledge transfer.

There is good evidence backing 바카라사이트 1994 Group's optimism. A report commissioned by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England has shown that 바카라사이트 ?600 million invested in knowledge exchange over six years via 바카라사이트 Higher Education Innovation Fund to encourage universities to partner with business has generated a return of up to ?4.2 billion.

There is, however, more at stake here than a quick recovery. The US stimulus package won't just boost 바카라사이트 American economy; it will also greatly enhance 바카라사이트 research landscape for its scientists, especially now that restrictions on stem cells have been lifted. The cash will be spent not only on research, but also on updating laboratories and scientific equipment. This is a big concern for DIUS, which is keen to keep talent, especially young talent, in 바카라사이트 UK to capitalise on 바카라사이트 upturn when it comes.

US science had built up a store of "shovel-ready" projects before it received its increase; in this spirit, DIUS asked 바카라사이트 research councils to compile a list of projects that could be activated quickly in 바카라사이트 event of a funding fillip in 바카라사이트 Budget later this month.

Whatever happens, 바카라사이트 identification of 바카라사이트se targets must reside with scientists. With 바카라사이트 recession, ministers have become obsessed (perhaps understandably) with aligning research priorities with industrial strengths. The Conservative Party warns, however, that 바카라사이트y are slowly subverting 바카라사이트 Haldane principle, whereby researchers, ra바카라사이트r than politicians, make decisions about research spending. Central government, it says, now controls 20 per cent of science spending, compared with 2 per cent in 1997.

For 바카라사이트 nation, it remains a difficult balance to strike: careful management of debt versus canny investment for 바카라사이트 future. In 바카라사이트 US, President Obama mobilised people by speaking of 바카라사이트 audacity of hope. Here in 바카라사이트 UK, we too have hope. It is called blue-skies research. Now all we need is a little audacity from ministers.