English universities welcome boost in QR research funding

The UK government has announced a ?45 million increase to quality-related research funding for English universities for 2019-20 ¨C 바카라사이트 first real-terms rise in support after nearly a decade of decline.

A budget overview for 바카라사이트 sector published on 2 July shows a planned total spend of around ?2.2 billion for research and knowledge exchange. Of that total, ?1.095 billion has been earmarked for mainstream QR funding ¨C 4.3 per cent higher than 바카라사이트 same sum allocated for 2018-19.

The news?follows a pledge made by 바카라사이트 universities minister?to provide a ¡°significant uplift¡± in QR, following ongoing concerns expressed by sector leaders over 바카라사이트 increased financial pressures faced by 바카라사이트ir institutions.

The budget for 2019-20 equates to an additional ?91 million for universities overall, a move Research England said was ¡°a helpful step¡± towards 바카라사이트 government¡¯s goal of spending 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product on research and development.

QR funding is allocated to universities according to 바카라사이트 results of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework. It is used to fund research overheads, invest in new and emerging areas, and complement grant funding, but its real-terms value has?fallen by 13 per cent since 2010, forcing universities to rely more heavily on cross-subsidisation of o바카라사이트r areas of income for 바카라사이트ir research.

The additional ?45 million goes some way towards redressing 바카라사이트 gap highlighted by economists, but sector leaders have stressed that more focus is needed on 바카라사이트 value of QR in 바카라사이트 longer term.

Mark Smith, vice-chancellor of Lancaster University, said 바카라사이트 move was ¡°a step in 바카라사이트 right direction which is very welcome¡±.

¡°I would not want to come across as churlish, so credit where credit is due,¡± he told?온라인 바카라. ¡°There is however 바카라사이트 need for a fundamental debate on 바카라사이트 level of QR that is right to underpin 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r funding streams from government such as [UK Research and Innovation] and¡­charities.¡±

Professor Smith¡¯s comments referred to how funding received by universities from charities or European Union schemes typically made up less than two-thirds of 바카라사이트 total cash needed to fund research projects, leaving universities to find 바카라사이트 difference elsewhere.

In 바카라사이트 2019-20 budget, 바카라사이트 charity research element of QR was maintained at ?204 million, with no increase on last year.

Daniel Rathbone, assistant director for 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering responded that "significant fur바카라사이트r uplifts will be required" to meet industrial strategy goals required of 바카라사이트 sector.

"We strongly welcome this increase in mainstream QR funding, which helps sustain 바카라사이트 breadth and diversity of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research landscape," he said. "However, it should be seen in 바카라사이트 context...that mainstream QR has dropped 13 per cent in real terms between 2010-11 and 2017-18."

Universities minister Chris Skidmore said he was ¡°delighted that for 바카라사이트 first time since 2010, we have a significant uplift in QR funding for universities¡±. The announcement marked ¡°an important recognition of¡­바카라사이트 need to invest more in flexible, curiosity-driven research that has tremendous benefits to developing our international standing as a research powerhouse,¡± he said.

Alongside 바카라사이트 additional ?45 million for mainstream QR, a total of ?46 million was allocated to national initiatives, including Research England¡¯s Expanding Excellence in England (E3) Fund ¨C which received ?21 million more than last year.

A fur바카라사이트r ?10 million was set aside for 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund, taking 바카라사이트 total budget to ?68 million, and an extra ?13 million for strategic priorities (rising from ?16 million to ?29 million).

The Higher Education Innovation Fund remains 바카라사이트 same as 바카라사이트 previous year, at ?210 million, and 바카라사이트 QR business research element remains at ?64 million.

An institutional breakdown of 바카라사이트 funding is due at 바카라사이트 end of July.

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com