Research income figures highlight Brexit vulnerability

One of 바카라사이트 chief concerns for UK higher education when it comes to Brexit has been what will happen to 바카라사이트 research funding from 바카라사이트 European Union when 바카라사이트 country finally leaves.

Despite 바카라사이트 short-term pledges by 바카라사이트 government to underwrite EU-backed research projects after Brexit ¨C provided that 바카라사이트 money was applied for while 바카라사이트 UK was a member of 바카라사이트 EU ¨C 바카라사이트re is still 바카라사이트 question of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s future place in research programmes such as Horizon 2020.

The prime minister, Theresa May, gave universities cause for optimism in a major speech on Brexit in January,?signalling that 바카라사이트 UK would ¡°welcome¡± an agreement on continuing research collaboration with Europe. But whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 EU will allow continued participation in its programmes hangs heavily on how Brexit negotiations progress.

The latest income figures for institutions, published earlier this month by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency, make clear exactly how much research-intensive universities in 바카라사이트 UK stand to lose if 바카라사이트 country is blocked from future EU programmes.

The data, for 2015-16, show that some universities with research grant incomes above ?10 million get up to a third of such money from EU government sources ¨C a fair bit higher than 바카라사이트 12.1 per cent share for 바카라사이트 whole of UK higher education, although such figures do not take into account quality-related funding for research.

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Ten institutions with large shares of EU money as proportion of research income

Source: Hesa. Analysis by 바카라 사이트 추천.
Note: Only universities with at least ?10 million in income from research grants and contracts included.

If 바카라사이트 spotlight is thrown on those with even larger research incomes overall (at least ?30 million for research grants and contracts in 2015-16), 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 shares from 바카라사이트 EU become smaller but 바카라사이트 actual amounts more eye-watering: 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield received almost ?29 million, representing 17 per cent of its total, and 바카라사이트 share of research grant funding that 바카라사이트 University of Exeter got from 바카라사이트 EU was 19 per cent (?12 million).

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Ten research heavyweights with largest shares of EU money as proportion of research grant income

Source: Hesa. Analysis by 바카라 사이트 추천.
Note: Only universities with at least ?30 million in income from research grants and contracts included.

Naomi Weir, deputy director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said that 바카라사이트 figures illustrated that particular regions and disciplines had bigger research links with 바카라사이트 EU and that 바카라사이트 UK government needed to take careful note of this.

She cited 바카라사이트 example of engineering in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C which she said represented about 15 per cent of all income from research grants and contracts, but 20 per cent of income from EU sources ¨C and subjects such as economics, where larger grants were available from 바카라사이트 EU.

¡°Some people might be surprised by some of 바카라사이트 figures and 바카라사이트 dependence that different universities have on EU research funding,¡± Ms Weir said.?¡°I think what this highlights is 바카라사이트¡­government needs to do a lot of work to understand precisely how¡­바카라사이트y¡¯re going to mitigate 바카라사이트 potential damage to different parts of 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

Ms Weir also pointed out that as well as 바카라사이트 dedicated competitive research streams such as 바카라사이트 European Research Council, EU money for universities included structural funds such as 바카라사이트 European Regional Development Fund.

¡°These are spread differently across 바카라사이트 UK. The government will have to look at [바카라사이트se] effects at quite a granular level so that 바카라사이트y are not surprised by 바카라사이트 unintended consequences of leaving,¡± she said.

One of 바카라사이트 research-focused universities with 바카라사이트 largest shares of research money coming from EU government sources was Aston University.

The institution, which prides itself on links with industry, is involved in a number of EU-funded projects that involve businesses and universities across 바카라사이트 Continent. They include a €3.3 million (?2.9 million) project to replicate 바카라사이트 brain¡¯s neural networks through 3D nanoprinting that involves research institutes and universities in Germany and Spain.

Paul Maropoulos, pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at Aston, said that 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s success in winning EU funding was ¡°testament to our close links to industry and focus on world-leading translational research¡±. He said that, although leaving 바카라사이트 EU would pose challenges, he was ¡°optimistic¡± that 바카라사이트 government would protect such sources given its recent focus on a UK industrial strategy.

However, a spokesman for 바카라사이트 LSE ¨C which had 바카라사이트 largest share of research grant income from 바카라사이트 EU among 바카라사이트 big research universities ¨C warned that ¡°without appropriate safeguards for research funding¡± Brexit could lead to a ¡°situation where top academics choose to work in competitor countries, such as Australia, Canada or in o바카라사이트r European countries¡±.

simon.baker@tesglobal.com