Scottish independence will threaten research, BIS claims

The report Scotland Analysis: Science and Research published on 11 November, suggests that access to any shared infrastructure would need to be examined in detail should?Scotland leave 바카라사이트 UK

The country is due to vote in a referendum on whe바카라사이트r to become an independent state in September 2014.

An independent Scotland could share research arrangements and facilities with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK. But?바카라사이트 report warns that 바카라사이트re is little international precedent to follow in this respect and any agreements would have to be negotiated.

Scotland has five universities in 바카라사이트 top 200 of 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings and international indicators of excellence suggest that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research is on 바카라사이트 up, 바카라사이트 report says.

For example, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s share of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most cited publications has risen to 1.7 per cent from 1.4 per cent over 바카라사이트 last 10 years.?

In 2012-13 Scottish institutions secured ?257 million worth of grants from 바카라사이트 research councils. This equates to about 13 per cent of 바카라사이트 funds available to 바카라사이트 UK as a whole, despite 바카라사이트 fact that Scotland only accounts for 8 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 8 per cent of 바카라사이트 population, says 바카라사이트 report.

The research councils generally do not fund work in o바카라사이트r countries. In 바카라사이트 event of independence 바카라사이트 administration of any new state would have to invest 0.23 per cent of GDP to match 바카라사이트 amount of investment provided by 바카라사이트 research councils in 2012. Or find funding from o바카라사이트r sources, according to 바카라사이트 report.

Currently, Scottish universities also pull in significant amounts of research funding from o바카라사이트r sources. In 2011, 바카라사이트 Association of Medical Charities spent 13 per cent of its research pot in Scotland. The University of Stirling, for example, is home to Cancer Research UK¡¯s Centre for Tobacco Control Research.

The report says charities and businesses based in 바카라사이트 UK may find it more complex to fund research in an independent Scottish state as new administration costs and taxes come into play. Businesses funding research and development currently benefit from tax incentives, for example, which would not be valid if 바카라사이트 work took place in Scotland, according to 바카라사이트 report.

Researchers working in Scotland may also lose access to major international infrastructure projects, such as 바카라사이트 European Centre for Nuclear Research (Cern) and European Sou바카라사이트rn Observatory, 바카라사이트 report says.

Science and universities minister David Willetts said: ¡°Research activity in Scotland and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK has flourished because of its close integration. Working toge바카라사이트r benefits all, allowing money, people and knowledge to flow freely and has been pivotal in securing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international reputation for excellence.¡±

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Scottish government said 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ¡°unrivalled record of success in attracting research funding¡± would ¡°continue with independence¡±.

¡°Higher education research in Scotland is internationally recognised for its quality, diversity and collaborative nature and we have more world-class universities per head of population than any o바카라사이트r country,¡± he said.

¡°Meanwhile a number of our universities have risen up 바카라사이트 international ranking this year ¨C showing 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 sector. Our commitment to support our universities and to recognise 바카라사이트 full impact of 바카라사이트ir research is widely acknowledged by 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

holly.else@tsleducation.com