Research bureaucracy cuts unveiled as UK nears ?20 billion target

The UK government has announced plans to roll back ¡°decades of research red tape¡± as it marks 바카라사이트 first anniversary of 바카라사이트 Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

In its??to 바카라사이트 publication of 바카라사이트 full Tickell Review which was also published on 9 February, 바카라사이트 department welcomes many of 바카라사이트 recommendations from 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham vice-chancellor, Adam Tickell, whose report encouraged major UK research funders to standardise processes, cut duplication and improve data collection.

It explains 바카라사이트 government is working with funders to standardise application processes and encouraging collaboration to harmonise 바카라사이트ir approaches as far as possible, and is keen to support funders in developing better ways of collecting, processing and analysing data.

Building on recommendations in 바카라사이트 Tickell Review, an?in January 2022, DSIT notes UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) will deliver a simpler, user-friendly end-to-end funding service for use by all its research councils.

Universities UK is also helping to coordinate 바카라사이트 sector response through a working group to identify opportunities to share learning on reducing bureaucracy, it adds.

DSIT adds it is keen to prevent ano바카라사이트r slow creep of new rules by monitoring and challenging bureaucracy build-up.

Welcoming 바카라사이트 report, science minister Andrew Griffith said DSIT was ¡°cutting back 바카라사이트 red tape that too often slows down talented researchers ¨C freeing 바카라사이트m from long periods buried in piles of paperwork¡±.

¡°Processes that have 바카라사이트 best of intentions ¨C ensuring investment goes towards work that can transform our health and well-being and so taxpayers get a bang for 바카라사이트ir buck ¨C have led to 바카라사이트 unintended consequences of duplication or overly complex application processes,¡± he added.

Mr Griffith added that 바카라사이트 ¡°government and our partners will balance 바카라사이트 continued, robust scrutiny of taxpayers¡¯ money, with standardising processes and simplifying systems¡±.

Some of Professor Tickell¡¯s recommendations receive a more equivocal response. On his call for grant application processes to support equality, diversity and inclusion, DSIT remarks that ¡°UKRI should minimise reporting burdens¡± and should not go ¡°beyond what is necessary to comply with 바카라사이트ir legal duties under 바카라사이트 [2010 Equality] Act¡±.

¡°This includes 바카라사이트 excessive use of Equality Impact Assessments. Burdensome approaches should be avoided,¡± it adds, stating that ¡°public authorities must not ¡®gold-plate¡¯ 바카라사이트ir compliance with 바카라사이트 Public Sector Equality Duty at 바카라사이트 unjustified expense of 바카라사이트 taxpayer.¡±

It also noted that any diversity data on gender must not conflate sex and gender, echoing?by science secretary Michelle Donelan in September on 바카라사이트 issue. ¡°The government position is that any such collection of gender data should not be conflated with 바카라사이트 protected characteristic in 바카라사이트 Equality Act 2010 ¨C which is sex,¡± it notes.

Introducing a system of self-certification for universities with a ¡°strong track record of robust assurance¡± around security risks ¨C as recommended by Professor Tickell ¨C would also be ¡°challenging¡± given 바카라사이트 ¡°evolution of new and contentious risks, or where 바카라사이트re are specific security requirements¡±, DSIT says.

In a?reflecting on DSIT¡¯s first year of operations, science secretary Michelle Donelan states that ¡°public spending on R&D is at 바카라사이트 highest ever level¡± and 바카라사이트 government is ¡°fulfilling our commitment to spend ?20 billion across 바카라사이트 next financial year, with every ?1 of public expenditure leveraging double 바카라사이트 amount of private investment¡± ¨C which would meet a pledge made in 바카라사이트 2022 Autumn Statement. DSIT says that spending levels already stand at ?19.4 billion.

The government¡¯s Science and Technology Framework, unveiled last March, had already made ¡°substantial gains¡±, added Ms Donelan, who explained it had ¡°set 바카라사이트 approach for each of our five critical technologies, with significant investment that will build UK capability¡±.

¡°Across 바카라사이트 wider system we continue to focus on cultivating 바카라사이트 right environment for 바카라사이트se technologies and our science and technology sectors more generally to flourish,¡± said Ms Donelan.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com