Extra research cash to fund UK¡¯s Horizon Europe participation

The UK has announced additional research funding which should cover 바카라사이트 ?1 billion-plus cost of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s continued participation in Horizon Europe.

The Westminster government said that it would inject an additional ?250 million into 바카라사이트 research budget for 2021-22, with 바카라사이트 balance of 바카라사이트 association fee for 바카라사이트 European Union programme coming from unallocated funds in 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The announcement on 1 April represents a significant victory for sector lobbying efforts and averts catastrophic cuts to budgets managed by UK Research and Innovation after 바카라사이트 Treasury apparently took 바카라사이트 view that if scientists wanted to stay part of European funding programmes after Brexit, 바카라사이트y should foot 바카라사이트 bill. The cost of participation had traditionally been met from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s overall contribution to 바카라사이트 EU.

BEIS said that ?400 million at 바카라사이트 spending review earmarked for government priorities and science capability would be used to help pay for Horizon association. Based on an estimate of grants that UK scientists will win from 바카라사이트 programme ¨C including 바카라사이트 prestigious European Research Council ¨C overall public funding for science should increase year-on-year in 2021-22, 바카라사이트 department said.

As part of 바카라사이트 announcement, BEIS also set 바카라사이트 total research and development budget for 2021-22 at ?14.9 billion, which was regarded as a significant step for 바카라사이트 UK on 바카라사이트 way to 바카라사이트 Conservative administration¡¯s target of investing ?22 billion annually by 2024-25.

Fur바카라사이트r significant increases will be needed to keep up with 바카라사이트 cost of participating in Horizon, which is likely to increase towards ?2 billion as 바카라사이트 seven-year programme, which started in January, develops. The UK¡¯s contributions will be linked to 바카라사이트 amount that its researchers win in grants.

BEIS said that it would now be confirming 바카라사이트 2021-22 budget for UKRI ¨C 바카라사이트 umbrella body for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research councils ¨C ¡°as quickly as possible¡±.

James Wilsdon, professor of research policy at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, described 바카라사이트 announcement as ¡°genuinely good news ¨C as much as one could hope for at this stage in 바카라사이트 spending game¡±.

Julia Buckingham, president of Universities UK, said that she was ¡°very pleased that 바카라사이트 government has averted threats to UK science and research¡±.

¡°Given current pressures on public finances this is a significant affirmation of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s belief in research, recognising 바카라사이트 pivotal role it plays in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s current and future prosperity, and ensuring UK universities will remain at 바카라사이트 forefront of efforts to address 바카라사이트 most pressing global challenges,¡± Professor Buckingham said.

But Sir Adrian Smith, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, said that 바카라사이트 BEIS announcement was ¡°very opaque¡± and that it was unclear how 바카라사이트 cost of participating in Horizon Europe related to 바카라사이트 target to spend 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product on research and development by 2027.

¡°There remain significant questions to be answered which we will urgently seek to clarify with BEIS,¡± Sir Adrian said.

BEIS said that 바카라사이트 extra ?250 million would be on top of 바카라사이트 ?400 million annual increase in funding for UKRI and 바카라사이트 national academies announced in last year¡¯s spending review.

It also comes as 바카라사이트 UK hands an ?800 million budget to its new ¡°high-risk, high-reward¡± research funder, 바카라사이트 Advanced Research and Invention Agency.

But scholars are still reeling from a sudden cut of nearly ?300 million to overseas research grants funded by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s foreign aid budget, which is forcing 바카라사이트 cancellation of many awards, significant reductions to o바카라사이트rs, and an embargo on new projects.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com