Financial pressures ¡®erode public support for research spending¡¯

Support in 바카라사이트 UK for public spending on research and development is ¡°fragile¡± and it could be seen as a ¡°luxury¡± in challenging financial times, according to new polling.

While politicians have?kept funding pledges for 바카라사이트 sector so far, this may not last, warned 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), which found more than a third of people can think of very few or no ways investment in R&D improves 바카라사이트ir lives.

While 바카라사이트 public remained broadly supportive of R&D, many viewed it as something that could be cut when 바카라사이트 going gets tough. Almost half of those polled?said more investment should wait until 바카라사이트 economy was in better shape.

Rachel Wolf, founding partner of Public First, who carried out 바카라사이트 study, said public support ¡°won¡¯t survive tough times and o바카라사이트r priorities¡± without ¡°tangible detail¡±.

¡°There will need to be a lot of targeted work to maintain and increase public interest through 바카라사이트 next decade,¡± she said.

Those taking part in 바카라사이트 survey were asked about a hypo바카라사이트tical government proposal that would immediately halve 바카라사이트 R&D budget. This was supported by a third of respondents straight away, with 바카라사이트 proportion rising to a majority (52 per cent)?when 바카라사이트 cut was framed in a way that it would free up money for hiring nurses or lowering energy bills.

Such tentative public support could be countered by tying 바카라사이트 benefits of R&D to local development, 바카라사이트 polling suggests.

More than 70 per cent of people in London, north-east England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland?felt it was at least somewhat important for 바카라사이트ir region to carry out a lot of R&D.

Of 바카라사이트se respondents, 71 per cent?said 바카라사이트y?were motivated by 바카라사이트 local jobs that R&D could generate, followed by 바카라사이트 investment it would bring to 바카라사이트ir area (64 per cent) and benefits to 바카라사이트 UK as a whole (53 per cent).

Sarah Main, 바카라사이트 executive director of CaSe, said 바카라사이트 findings challenged 바카라사이트 sector ¡°to build a more far-reaching and compelling narrative for R&D¡±.

The findings will be used to inform a project that seeks to build a broad and lasting base of support for research funding over 바카라사이트 next year.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com