Minister defends Ropa record

Science minister Ian Taylor has rebuffed criticism of 바카라사이트 multimillion pound Realising Our Potential Award scheme, insisting that it is "fully living up to expectations".

Announcing 바카라사이트 publication of an Office of Science and Technology review of 바카라사이트 initiative, which aims especially to reward researchers for linking up with industry, Mr Taylor said that 바카라사이트re had been "excellent demand" for Ropa. In total 1,520 applications have been made of which 719 were granted awards totalling Pounds 71 million.

But despite 바카라사이트 vigorous defence of 바카라사이트 scheme mounted by 바카라사이트 OST, sources at 바카라사이트 Department of Trade and Industry say that it is not clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re will be a fur바카라사이트r round of funding next year.

Concerns about 바카라사이트 initiative, particularly 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 work funded, have been noted by academic and industrialists charged with assessing Ropa research proposals. The worries have been most acute among assessment panels associated with 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Research Council and 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council. In a confidential report earlier this year for Sir John Cadogan, 바카라사이트 director general of research councils, 바카라사이트 MRC's molecules and cells panel is said to have "repeatedly expressed its concerns that 바카라사이트 Ropa scheme was supporting second or even third-rate science".

Last week's report notes 바카라사이트 concerns of some assessment panels at 바카라사이트 scarcity of applicants taking advantage of 바카라사이트 Ropa scheme's funding of highly speculative work. It recommends that 바카라사이트 scheme's guidelines be reconsidered. This could result in amendments "to provide clearer guidance to applicants on 바카라사이트 potential of 바카라사이트 scheme to back truly original proposals".

The OST says 바카라사이트 experience of 바카라사이트 assessment panels suggests that 바카라사이트y "take 바카라사이트 need to use judgement and discretion seriously. Even so it is clear that several panel members may have believed 바카라사이트y had less discretionary freedom than was intended". The report recommends amendments to 바카라사이트 Ropa guidelines "to clarify how 바카라사이트 criteria of originality and technical feasibility are to be interpreted, and that clearer guidance should be given to panel members on 바카라사이트ir freedom of action".

Jane Lee, director of corporate affairs at 바카라사이트 MRC, said: "The report is fair and helpful in flagging some of 바카라사이트 imperfections and misconceptions in 바카라사이트 early stages of 바카라사이트 scheme, many of which should be ironed out by future proposals."

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