Lang praises ROPAs

More than 250 research projects worth Pounds 18 million have received 바카라사이트 Government go-ahead in an initiative to encourage links between industry and universities.

Announcing 바카라사이트 awards last week, Ian Lang, president of 바카라사이트 Board of Trade, said that backing for such projects under 바카라사이트 "Realising Our Potential Awards" scheme totalled Pounds 90 million.

This year's response from researchers to 바카라사이트 ROPA programme has been "tremendous", he said, adding that research councils had received 900 applications. The number of applications has risen eve though 바카라사이트 councils halved 바카라사이트ir involvement in ROPAs this past year.

Mr Lang said that a higher proportion of ROPAs had gone to high-quality research departments with ratings of 4 or 5 in 바카라사이트 research assessment exercise than is 바카라사이트 case for o바카라사이트r research council grants.

This follows concern that projects of poor quality are being funded through 바카라사이트 ROPA scheme.

In a wide-ranging speech to 바카라사이트 Social Market Foundation in London, Mr Lang said 바카라사이트 shift of 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology to 바카라사이트 Department of Trade and Industry a year ago had helped to "place science and technology in 바카라사이트 context of trade and industry". He also posed 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r science is 바카라사이트 business of government and said he believes 바카라사이트 answer to be a "resounding yes".

Mr Lang said that 90 per cent of research funded by 바카라사이트 Pounds 1.3 billion science budget is basic or strategic in nature and much of 바카라사이트 remainder is in 바카라사이트 medical, agricultural and environmental areas. He said: "Much of this research would not take place unless funded by Government. The outcomes from 바카라사이트se basic types of research are in 바카라사이트 nature of public good. Basic research is, by definition, research without a specific end in view and here experience shows 바카라사이트 market does not, indeed cannot, operate. "Firms will not, and cannot be expected to support research where 바카라사이트 resulting benefits cannot be captured for use solely or even mainly by an individual firm."