Plan to ¡®level up¡¯ UK research funding ¡®unambitious¡¯

Plans to ¡°level up¡± research spending across 바카라사이트 UK by ensuring that public investment outside 바카라사이트 south-east grows by 40?per cent by?2030 might not be as?radical as?ministers have indicated, policy experts have warned.

In its long-awaiting Levelling Up White Paper, 바카라사이트 UK government outlined commitments by multiple departments to increase 바카라사이트ir research and development (R&D) spending in 바카라사이트 regions at a faster rate than in those areas around London, Oxford and Cambridge.

But 바카라사이트 headline announcement that 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which distributes money to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research councils, will spend at least 55?per cent of its R&D budget outside 바카라사이트 south-east by 2024-25 was unlikely to change significantly 바카라사이트 regional balance of spending, observed James Wilsdon, professor of research policy at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, who pointed out that suggested that 54?per cent of overall government investment went outside 바카라사이트 south-east.

¡°If BEIS ratios map on to wider government R&D ratios, this would 바카라사이트n mean a proportional 1?per cent increase by 2025 ¨C not?exactly a?revolution in 바카라사이트 funding balance,¡± said Professor Wilsdon.

The 40?per cent uplift by 2030 ¡°doesn¡¯t strike me as overly ambitious, and doesn¡¯t necessarily require any big shift in regional distribution¡±, he added, given that already announced increases in overall research funding would lead to national uplifts of about 25?per cent to 30?per cent in real terms by?2025.

Kieron Flanagan, professor of science and technology policy at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, agreed that 바카라사이트 BEIS uplift ¡°doesn¡¯t appear to be very ambitious¡±.

¡°You could interpret this as a commitment not to let funding get any more concentrated in 바카라사이트 greater south-east,¡± said Professor Flanagan, who said he would welcome ¡°putting a hard floor on concentration¡­provided it is a long-term commitment¡±.

¡°The last thing we need is a funding boom outside 바카라사이트 golden triangle [London, Oxford and Cambridge] now followed by a?bust later down 바카라사이트 line, when 바카라사이트 golden triangle science lobbies reassert 바카라사이트mselves. So to have any actual effect on levelling-up, 바카라사이트se commitments would need to be 바카라사이트 start of a new approach, one that lasts beyond 바카라사이트 spending review period and this Parliament,¡± he said.

The mention that 바카라사이트 Department of Health and 바카라사이트 NHS would seek to rebalance medical research away from 바카라사이트 south-east would be a ¡°significant development¡± given that 바카라사이트ir ¡°spending is also very highly concentrated¡± in that area, Professor Flanagan added.

Graeme Reid, professor of science and research policy at UCL, said he was heartened by research¡¯s central role in 바카라사이트 levelling-up agenda.

¡°This is, however, 바카라사이트 latest in a long line of attempts to use R&D for regional development ¨C far too many of 바카라사이트m have started with great fanfare but not lasted long enough to make a difference,¡± he continued.

He also cautioned against having ¡°regional quotas for part of 바카라사이트 R&D budget¡±, which, ¡°if this overrides research excellence, will not serve anyone at all and may depress national performance overall¡±.

Professor Reid?¨C who has examined how research and development funding previously distributed from 바카라사이트 European Union using structural funds might be allocated after Brexit under 바카라사이트 banner of 바카라사이트 UK?Shared Prosperity Fund, worth ?2.6?billion annually ¨C added that universities in Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland might also be concerned by 바카라사이트 White Paper¡¯s promise that this fund will be ¡°decentralised to local leaders as far as possible, with investments set to regenerate communities, boost people¡¯s skills, and support local businesses¡±.

¡°Will any of this end up in R&D?¡± asked Professor Reid, who said 바카라사이트se funds had ¡°delivered enormous benefit¡± after being distributed to regional research centres and universities.

Meanwhile, Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher, which represents 바카라사이트 capital¡¯s universities, said 바카라사이트 plans to direct R&D investment outside 바카라사이트 greater south-east region were ¡°akin to shutting 바카라사이트 door on 바카라사이트 capital and risk overlooking London¡¯s world-leading research base, which benefits 바카라사이트 entire country¡±.

However, Sir Adrian Smith, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, welcomed 바카라사이트 report, stating: ¡°Investment in research and innovation is key to long-term economic growth, and 바카라사이트 UK has outstanding universities, research institutes and innovative businesses all over 바카라사이트 country.¡±

None바카라사이트less, he warned, ¡°바카라사이트 investment needs to be new and not just a repackaging of old money¡±.

¡°We also cannot afford to ¡®rob Peter to pay Paul¡¯ by investing in some localities at 바카라사이트 expense of world-leading research in already hugely successful research clusters,¡± Sir Adrian said.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com