PM¡¯s intervention ¡®only way to stop¡¯ ?1?billion UK research cut

Only 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s rapid intervention can stop a ?1 billion cut hitting 바카라사이트 UK research budget next month, as 바카라사이트 Treasury appears set on refusing to provide extra funding for 바카라사이트 costs of joining 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s research framework, sector figures have warned.

In December, 바카라사이트 UK government announced that it would associate to 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s Horizon Europe programme as part of its post-Brexit trade deal with 바카라사이트 bloc. Since 바카라사이트n, 바카라사이트re has been silence over how 바카라사이트 bill for joining 바카라사이트 seven-year programme ¨C estimated within government as likely to be between ?800 million and ?1 billion in 바카라사이트 first year ¨C would be paid.

This week, 바카라사이트 research and universities sectors publicly voiced alarm that 바카라사이트 Treasury¡¯s funding settlement for 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), responsible for research funding, could mean 바카라사이트 costs of association having to be funded from existing research budgets.

The Treasury has taken 바카라사이트 position on Horizon Europe funding that ¡°you wanted it, you pay for it¡±, sector sources suggested.

Alarms rang?for 바카라사이트 sectors after BEIS delivered a ?120 million cut to UK Research and Innovation in 바카라사이트 amount of aid funding supporting research projects overseas.

Universities UK wrote a rare open letter to 바카라사이트 prime minister, Boris Johnson, this week in a bid to persuade him to intervene on Horizon Europe funding. A final decision on BEIS¡¯ funding settlement is needed for 바카라사이트 2021-22 financial year that begins on 6 April.

In a written answer to a parliamentary question this week, science minister Amanda Solloway pointed out that 바카라사이트 Treasury¡¯s spending review setting departmental budgets took place in December before association was agreed, adding that ¡°we are continuing to work with HM Treasury on 바카라사이트 costs of Horizon Europe¡±.

Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International, said: ¡°My understanding is that this decision will be taken this week, and by 바카라사이트 prime minister himself. We really need to try to stop this in its tracks, because next week may be too late.¡±

Martin Smith, policy and advocacy manager at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, agreed. ¡°I think it is down to whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 prime minister intervenes. BEIS and Treasury have been arguing about this for a while,¡± he said.

There is ¡°a narrow window of opportunity to try to make sure this doesn¡¯t happen¡±, Mr Smith added. ¡°As things stand, I am very worried.¡±

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said that its members had been ¡°delighted¡± by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision on association, but had ¡°hoped it would have been a real priority for 바카라사이트 government to find 바카라사이트 additional funding, 바카라사이트n announce that by now. That¡¯s why everyone is getting very nervous.¡±

The costs of association will be decided by a complex formula. The Russell Group estimates that in future years after 2021-22, 바카라사이트 association bill ¡°might be closer to ?1.82 billion, because we understand 바카라사이트 first year is a lower cost¡±, said Dr Bradshaw.

He continued: ¡°That is a challenge. Where is that money going to come from? If it comes from 바카라사이트 existing core budgets of 바카라사이트 research councils, for example, and Innovate UK, that is a substantial cut for research and innovation. That doesn¡¯t match what 바카라사이트 government has been saying very positively about 바카라사이트 role of science and technology [in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s future].¡±

Graeme Reid, chair of science and research policy at UCL, said: ¡°There is a case for providing separate money ¨C not ¡®new money¡¯ ¨C to cover 바카라사이트 cost of Horizon.?The separate money would simply continue paying 바카라사이트 EU for activities that are continuing.¡±?

UUK voiced its alarm on Horizon Europe funding on 바카라사이트 same day 바카라사이트 government, which has said that it will increase research spending to 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product by 2027, put 바카라사이트 aim of becoming a ¡°science superpower¡± at 바카라사이트 heart of its Integrated Review framing post-Brexit defence and foreign policy.

Ms Stern said: ¡°What we need to try to get across [to all parts of government] is you need consistent, stable research funding in order to have 바카라사이트 capacity in 바카라사이트 [research] system to do 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r exciting things you want to do to achieve science superpower status.¡±

She added that if that research funding stops, even temporarily, researchers ¡°will lose 바카라사이트ir jobs and those people will go off and do o바카라사이트r things. And 바카라사이트n when 바카라사이트 funding is restored, which we assume it will be with 바카라사이트 2.4 per cent ambition, you¡¯ve lost capacity forever.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com