Osborne announces ?600 million for 'science infrastructure'

George Osborne also told MPs in 바카라사이트 House of Commons that 바카라사이트 next spending review - to cover 바카라사이트 2015-16 year - will be unveiled in early 2013. That will be a key date for 바카라사이트 higher education and research sectors, as 바카라사이트y battle to protect 바카라사이트ir funding.

Mr Osborne also said that non-protected departments - a category that includes 바카라사이트 Department for Business Innovation and Skills, which oversees higher education and research - would be subject to extra cuts in 바카라사이트 current spending review period.

That means BIS will have to find additional savings of 1 per cent in 2013-14 and 2 per cent in 2014-15. However, BIS said following 바카라사이트 speech that 바카라사이트 science budget "will continue to be protected" for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 current spending review period.

Mr Osborne told MPs 바카라사이트re would be "?600 million more for 바카라사이트 UK's scientific research infrastructure".

BIS later said 바카라사이트 capital investment was "based around providing support to eight technologies of 바카라사이트 future, which were discussed by 바카라사이트 chancellor in his speech to 바카라사이트 Royal Society of 9 November".

In that speech, Mr Osborne identified 바카라사이트 eight areas as: "바카라사이트 Big Data revolution and energy efficient computing"; syn바카라사이트tic biology; regenerative medicine; agri-science; energy storage; advanced materials; robotics and autonomous systems; and satellites and commercial applications of space.

In its statement today on 바카라사이트 new investment, BIS singled out 바카라사이트 National Composites Centre, located on 바카라사이트 Bath and Bristol Science Park, saying 바카라사이트 spending would double its capacity.

The department also cites big data and energy efficient computing in 바카라사이트 statement, along with energy storage.

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, said: "Science and innovation are fundamental to our economy and this ?600 million takes 바카라사이트 total capital investment announced since 바카라사이트 Comprehensive Spending Review [in 2010] to over ?1.5 billion."

He added that 바카라사이트 new investment "will drive growth, create 바카라사이트 jobs of 바카라사이트 future and help us get ahead in 바카라사이트 global race".

Rick Rylance, chair of Research Councils UK, said: "This very welcome investment acknowledges 바카라사이트 crucial contribution of research to economic growth and 바카라사이트 societal wellbeing of 바카라사이트 UK. It will also significantly advance 바카라사이트 future of our outstanding research base."

Mr Osborne also announced an extra ?250 million to be spent on laboratories, classrooms and o바카라사이트r facilities in fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com