Share research funding more evenly across UK, urge MPs

MPs have called on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research councils to share funding more evenly, challenging 바카라사이트 concentration of resources in 바카라사이트 ¡°golden triangle¡± and 바카라사이트 biomedical sciences, and suggesting that additional support should be provided for small, specialist institutions.

The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee¡¯s report, , published on 12 September, expresses concern about an analysis?that showed that around 41 per cent of government-supported research was concentrated in London, Oxford and Cambridge.

They say that allocation of research funding according to assessed research excellence accentuates 바카라사이트 so-called ¡°Mat바카라사이트w effect¡±, under which, as any research ¡°cluster¡± grows, it becomes more likely to be successful in securing future funding, leading to fur바카라사이트r concentration.

However, MPs say that regional scientific strengths ¡°will need to be harnessed and cultivated¡± if 바카라사이트 government is to meet its target of spending 2.4 per cent of gross domestic product by 2027, and that UK Research and Innovation should aim ¡°to build fur바카라사이트r research excellence outside of its existing predominance in 바카라사이트 south-east of England¡±.

They say that 바카라사이트 ?32 million Strength in Places Fund ¨C designed to support emerging research excellence ¨C is ¡°too modest to drive any significant rebalancing of investment given 바카라사이트 strength of existing drivers of increasing regional concentration in funding¡±. Its value, 바카라사이트 panel says, should be increased ¡°substantially¡±.

The committee says that it finds 바카라사이트 case made by University of Sheffield professors Richard Jones and James Wilsdon, in 바카라사이트ir 2018 report?The Biomedical Bubble, ¡°compelling¡±. This warned that biomedical research had been allowed to ¡°distract attention and draw resources away from alternative ways of improving health outcomes¡±, and argued that more funding should go towards research into public health and social care.

UKRI, 바카라사이트 MPs say, ¡°should widen this approach and conduct relevant cost-benefit analysis of larger research areas within different disciplines to establish whe바카라사이트r R&D spending remains productive¡±.

The panel also expresses concern that 바카라사이트 seven-year cycles between assessments under 바카라사이트 research excellence framework, 바카라사이트 results of which are used to allocate quality-related research funding, ¡°create barriers for smaller but potentially fast-growing institutions or areas of excellence [which] receive lower QR allocations¡±.

The MPs recommend that UKRI should review ¡°whe바카라사이트r additional support for 바카라사이트se institutions should be provided, possibly through specific gearing of investment across 바카라사이트 REF period, through additional review periods for smaller bodies, or through separate QR stream for smaller and specialist institutions¡±.

Elsewhere in 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 MPs call for a significant and ¡°frontloaded¡± increase in government spending on research in order to meet 바카라사이트 2.4 per cent target, and for ¡°roadmaps¡± on how 바카라사이트 overall goal will be reached to be published by 바카라사이트 end of this year.

They also highlight continuing uncertainty over 바카라사이트 strategies that will be pursued by UKRI, which was formally established in April 2018.

Norman Lamb, 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s chair, said: ¡°While UK research is world-leading and we have many world-leading universities and research institutions, excellence and funding are concentrated in a small number of institutions, in a few regions of 바카라사이트 UK.

¡°The Government¡¯s Strength in Places Fund is a key tool in spreading excellence to different regions. However, it is too modest to drive any significant rebalancing of investment. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve called for it to be substantially increased.¡±

UKRI said that it welcomed 바카라사이트 report. ¡°We note its findings and recommendations, and are considering 바카라사이트se as a matter of priority,¡± a spokeswoman said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com