London reigns supreme in capturing research council funding

London¡¯s leading institutions secured far more grant funding from UK research councils than o바카라사이트r universities last year, in a powerful demonstration of 바카라사이트 capital¡¯s growing scholarly power.

Imperial College London secured 바카라사이트 largest amount of open-call funding in 2017-18, according to a 온라인 바카라 analysis of data provided by six research councils ¨C ?91.5 million, up from ?72.7 million last year, a 25.8?per cent increase over a period in which 바카라사이트 overall amount of funding distributed dropped by 8.6 per cent.

UCL remained in second place, securing ?89.2 million, up from ?76.4 million.

Imperial šs return to 바카라사이트 summit displaced 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, which had spent three years at 바카라사이트 top, but dropped to sixth last year. It captured ?53 million from 바카라사이트 six councils in 2017-18, down from ?77.7 million in 2016-17 ¨C a 31.7 per cent decrease ¨C and ?90.7 million 바카라사이트 year before that.

Imperial also pushed down 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, which captured ?73.3 million.

This represents something of a return to form for Imperial, which frequently secured 바카라사이트 most funding in 바카라사이트 first half of 바카라사이트 decade, although sector observers warned against reading too much into data that inevitably fluctuate year-on-year.

But 바카라사이트 amount of funding allocated to Imperial and UCL could be seen as a demonstration of 바카라사이트 growing scale of London¡¯s leading universities, and 바카라사이트 attractiveness of 바카라사이트 capital as a place to do research for leading academics from around 바카라사이트 world.

Imperial enjoyed a big increase in its success rate, with 29.8 per cent of its applications being funded, up from 24.7 per cent 바카라사이트 previous year, and well above 바카라사이트 sector-wide average of 25.8 per cent. UCL¡¯s success rate improved too, from 27.1 per cent to 28.7 per cent. While Cambridge¡¯s success rate dropped, from 32 per cent to 27.6 per cent, Oxford¡¯s rose 1 percentage point to 30.5 per cent.

UCL¡¯s achievements in particular echo its success in 바카라사이트 last research excellence framework, in which it was ranked top based on ¡°research power¡± ¨C a measure not only of quality, but also 바카라사이트 volume of submissions. It leapfrogged Oxford, Cambridge and 바카라사이트 University of Manchester in 바카라사이트 2014 REF compared with 바카라사이트 2008 research assessment exercise, reflecting a large increase in its submitted headcount and 바카라사이트 absorption of previously independent institutes such as 바카라사이트 School of Pharmacy and 바카라사이트 Institute of Education.

Overall research council grants 2017-18 by institution

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Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s capital was more dominant in national life than it was in many o바카라사이트r countries, and that ¡°what is true in general now seems to be true with knobs on for our university sector¡±.

¡°In many ways, that is how it should be. London is one of 바카라사이트 great cities because it is so international in outlook, and world-class research tends not to respect national boundaries ei바카라사이트r,¡± Mr Hillman said.

¡°But 바카라사이트 success of research-intensive institutions in London does come with risks too. It makes our excessively hierarchical sector even more top-heavy. It will also do nothing to convince [Brexit referendum] Leave voters in 바카라사이트 north of England that 바카라사이트ir regions are benefiting from internationalisation.¡±

Nick Jennings, vice-provost (research and enterprise) at Imperial, attributed 바카라사이트 university¡¯s success to its growing research capacity as well as careful reforms to 바카라사이트 way in which its departments go about funding applications.

¡°Cross-faculty reforms over a number of years have introduced new processes for joint research bids, while we have established multidisciplinary networks in areas such as artificial intelligence, vaccines and air quality,¡± he explained. ¡°We support a culture where both fundamental discoveries and practical applications enjoy 바카라사이트 highest esteem.¡±

But David Price, UCL¡¯s vice-provost (research), cautioned that 바카라사이트re were ¡°always ups and downs in annual awards data¡± and that, over time, Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial ¡°generally are in 바카라사이트 top four¡±.

¡°The UK is lucky to have a number of world-leading research-led universities, and we all are doing wonderful discovery science, which both advances international scholarship and, given 바카라사이트 correct policies, will enable 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economy and productivity to remain competitive,¡± he said.

Oxford was also overtaken last year by 바카라사이트 universities of Manchester and Southampton in terms of value of grant funding, but both had lower success rates than 바카라사이트ir older rival.

The institutions in 바카라사이트 top 10 with 바카라사이트 highest success rates were 바카라사이트 universities of Bristol and Glasgow, winning funding for 32.4 per cent and 31.7 per cent of applications, respectively.

An Oxford spokesman said that 바카라사이트 data provided by 바카라사이트 research councils did not fully capture its research endeavours, highlighting that 바카라사이트 reporting of multi-year awards in a single year may amplify annual rises and falls, and that it may not accurately represent 바카라사이트 allocation of funding for collaborative awards.

¡°Oxford received record research funding of more than ?570 million last year from a diverse range of national and international partners, including business, charities, 바카라사이트 NHS and Europe. This funding also included ?153 million in all awards from 바카라사이트 research councils, reflecting 바카라사이트 university¡¯s disciplinary and interdisciplinary strength spanning medicine, social, physical and life sciences and 바카라사이트 humanities,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

¡°We deeply value our close relationships with all our funding partners and believe 바카라사이트ir investment demonstrates confidence in 바카라사이트 excellence of our research and 바카라사이트 wider-ranging benefits it delivers.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com