Forget prestige: science funding is an economic matter

David Willetts today used his first major speech on science policy to emphasise 바카라사이트 ¡°overwhelming¡± economic case for science funding.

The universities and science minister said it was ¡°inevitable¡± in 바카라사이트 current fiscal climate that 바카라사이트 Treasury would be more swayed by ¡°hard-headed¡± economic considerations than arguments about how groundbreaking discoveries boost national prestige.

¡°There is certainly nothing wrong with wanting to achieve something for your country, and fame, competition and pride are human motives that we find in every walk of life,¡± he told an audience at 바카라사이트 Royal Institution this morning. ¡°But none of this is an economic argument for being 바카라사이트 first person to make a scientific discovery.¡±

Mr Willetts reiterated his support for 바카라사이트 claim that a strong national research base made countries better able to capitalise on discoveries made elsewhere. He admitted that this was not a new argument, but said it had not been stressed enough.

He also repeated his commitment to research and innovation ¡°clusters¡± and contrasted this with what he described as 바카라사이트 previous government¡¯s tendency to view innovation as a ¡°sausage machine¡±, in which money spent on academic research inexorably led to commercially successful spin-off companies backed by venture capital.

¡°It is too neat and tidy an account of scientific and commercial progress,¡± he said, adding that 바카라사이트 approach could also have 바카라사이트 ¡°perverse¡± effect of putting an ¡°exaggerated focus¡± on intellectual property and spin-offs, which on average contributed just 3 per cent of universities¡¯ total income from business and charity sources.

Mr Willetts said he could not talk about spending commitments until 바카라사이트 Comprehensive Spending Review is published this autumn, but warned that 바카라사이트 UK could not afford to emulate 바카라사이트 examples of 바카라사이트 US, Canada and France, which had reacted to 바카라사이트 recession by spending more on science.

¡°Their public finances are in much better shape than ours,¡± he said.

The minister added that 바카라사이트 state should support shared facilities such as 바카라사이트 Diamond Light Source, which could be used by private companies that could not afford to develop such centres on 바카라사이트ir own.

As reported in 온라인 바카라 this week, Mr Willetts formally announced a one-year delay to 바카라사이트 research excellence framework¡¯s roll-out.

He also emphasised his continued support for 바카라사이트 dual-support system and backed 바카라사이트 push for libel reform.

¡°We cannot have writers facing libel charges because 바카라사이트y offer a scientific critique of o바카라사이트r people¡¯s claims. This is an issue I have raised with Ken Clarke, 바카라사이트 Lord Chancellor, and which his department recognises it must address,¡± he said.

Lord Lester¡¯s libel reform bill receives its second reading in 바카라사이트 House of Lords today. The Lib Dem peer¡¯s work could form 바카라사이트 basis of new legislation.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com