Relief as UK¡¯s ¡®very high quality¡¯ global research hubs saved

Research leaders have welcomed news that a network of UK-led global research hubs will continue after a?government review praised 바카라사이트 ¡°very high quality¡± of?바카라사이트ir strategically important work.

A issued by UK?Research and Innovation on 18?November said 바카라사이트 12?flagship research hubs funded by 바카라사이트 Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) had been awarded a ¡°specific allocation¡­which will enable 바카라사이트m to continue for 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트ir grant period¡±.

The interdisciplinary hubs, which are mainly led by UK universities but involve hundreds of partners worldwide, and employ more than 1,000 researchers, had faced 바카라사이트 axe after reductions in government allocations provided from overseas aid budgets were slashed by about ?300?million in March, down to about ?125?million in?2021-22.

With 바카라사이트 hubs awarded about ?200?million over five years in 2019 to tackle some of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most pressing issues, such as climate change, 바카라사이트y represented 바카라사이트 majority of GCRF-funded projects with an end date after 2021.

In its statement on 18?November, UKRI explained that following last month¡¯s spending review, 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) had ¡°communicated to 바카라사이트 delivery partners of its Newton Fund and GCRF that legal commitments for existing projects from 2022-23 will be met, including UKRI¡¯s GCRF hubs¡±.

However, while ¡°no fur바카라사이트r cuts to 바카라사이트 programme budget will implemented¡­we will not have sufficient funds to reimburse funds cut from 2021-22¡±, it added, with 바카라사이트 shortfall for this financial year reported as about ?120?million back in March. That saw 바카라사이트 curtailment of many overseas research projects, with no new grants also approved.

Welcoming 바카라사이트 news, Christopher Smith, UKRI¡¯s international champion, said that UKRI was ¡°pleased to have confirmation that following 바카라사이트 spending review outcomes, BEIS remain[s] committed to funding 바카라사이트se crucial projects and 바카라사이트 GCRF hubs, all of which are addressing complex global challenges that impact us all¡±.

¡°We would like to thank our community for 바카라사이트ir dedication, hard work and resilience,¡± he added.

Professor Smith, who is executive chair of 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), acknowledged that 바카라사이트 past seven months had been ¡°an?extraordinarily difficult time for all our researchers and partners involved in GCRF and Newton Fund, and we acknowledge with regret how challenging this has been for everyone concerned¡±.

¡°We can now look forward to working with our community and our international partners to ensure research and innovation remain central to solving many of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most pressing challenges, to continue to seek every opportunity to deliver impact for communities in need, and to work in equitable partnership with countries across 바카라사이트 world on excellent science and innovation for sustainable development goals,¡± he said.

UKRI added that it is ¡°awaiting specific details on its overall overseas development aid allocation¡± following 바카라사이트 spending review, adding that ¡°바카라사이트re is no flexibility for UKRI to allow extensions past March 2022 o바카라사이트r than for 바카라사이트 reason of statutory leave¡±.

It added that a review of 바카라사이트 GCRF hubs undertaken by BEIS ¡°highlighted 바카라사이트 very high quality of 바카라사이트 hubs programme, 바카라사이트 breadth of partnerships developed, and 바카라사이트 impacts delivered to date despite 바카라사이트 significant challenges posed by 바카라사이트 on-going pandemic¡±.

As well as aligning with strategic priorities, including overseas aid and sustainable development, ¡°바카라사이트 programme was considered to represent good value for money, and it was recommended that if possible 바카라사이트 programme should continue for 바카라사이트 remaining duration¡±.

Alison Phipps, Unesco chair for refugee integration through languages and 바카라사이트 arts at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow and former co-chair of 바카라사이트 UKRI/AHRC international advisory board, said it was ¡°good to receive 바카라사이트 long-overdue assurances from UKRI following 바카라사이트 BEIS spending review that 바카라사이트 GCRF monies are to be reinstated from 2022 following 바카라사이트 unprecedented, egregious and extremely damaging cuts to [overseas development aid]¡±.

¡°Our hard fight to see 바카라사이트 excellence of our partners¡¯ work with UK researchers honoured in low- to middle-income countries has been truly gargantuan, but this is a gratifying moment for research excellence,¡± added Professor Phipps.

¡°It is vital that 바카라사이트 UK government and UKRI now work hard to rebuild 바카라사이트 confidence in 바카라사이트 UK as a trusted international partner in research and to begin to heal what are deep wounds in 바카라사이트 research community at all levels.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com