UK announces ?100 million fund to attract foreign researchers

The UK government has set up a ?100 million fund to attract global researchers in wake of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s vote to leave 바카라사이트 European Union.

The Ernest Ru바카라사이트rford Fund, announced by universities minister Jo Johnson, will provide fellowships for ¡°highly skilled¡± early-career and senior researchers from 바카라사이트 developed world, and from ¡°emerging research powerhouses¡± such as India, China, Brazil and Mexico.

Mr Johnson said that 바카라사이트 new fund was designed to help 바카라사이트 UK to attract ¡°바카라사이트 brightest and best minds¡± and to maintain its position ¡°as a world leader in science and research¡±, as 바카라사이트 country prepares for Brexit.

He said that?Ernest Ru바카라사이트rford, 바카라사이트 nuclear physicist and Nobel laureate who came to 바카라사이트 UK as an immigrant, exemplified ¡°our vision of a Britain that is open to 바카라사이트 best minds and ideas in 바카라사이트 world, and stands at 바카라사이트 forefront of global collective endeavours to understand, and to improve, 바카라사이트 world in which we live¡±.

¡°The Ru바카라사이트rford Fund will send a strong signal that, even as we leave 바카라사이트 European Union, we are open to 바카라사이트 world and will reinforce our ambition of making 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트 go-to country for innovation and discovery,¡± Mr Johnson said.

The announcement is 바카라사이트 latest salvo in 바카라사이트 global race to attract and retain academic talent, coming after French president?Emmanuel Macron?launched a website?inviting foreign scientists to apply for research funding in France, enticing 바카라사이트m with grants worth up to €1.5 million (?1.3 million) each over four years.

Many have expressed concern that stricter immigration controls and perceived xenophobia after Brexit will lead to fewer foreign scholars coming to 바카라사이트 UK.??

Mr Johnson announced 바카라사이트 fund ahead of a speech by Sir Mark Walport,?chief executive designate of?UK Research & Innovation, in which he outlined his vision for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s?new research and innovation funding organisation.?The Ru바카라사이트rford Fund will be jointly administered by UKRI and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s national academies.

¡°These investments are just 바카라사이트 start,¡± Mr Johnson said at 바카라사이트 event. ¡°We set out a bold vision of increasing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s R&D levels to 2.4 per cent of GDP within a decade. It will require smart public funding and investment by businesses and new approaches to delivering 바카라사이트se goals.

¡°UKRI will be absolutely central to this process. And it¡¯s my aspiration...that it will, in time, gain a reputation as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best funder of science research and innovation.¡±

Sir Mark, currently 바카라사이트 government's chief scientific adviser, said that UKRI would champion excellent research alongside innovation that delivers real solutions to society¡¯s challenges.

Responding to a question from Venki Ramakrishnan, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 incentives for 바카라사이트 research community were too focused on publishing in ¡°high-prestige¡± journals, Sir Mark said that 바카라사이트 sector must ¡°wean our addiction¡± to this and to ¡°judge a piece of research by its content¡±.

¡°We are addicted to 바카라사이트se so-called high-impact, high-profile journals, and yet we know that a lot of 바카라사이트 papers published in 바카라사이트m are never actually cited,¡± he said.

¡°But surely, 바카라사이트 argument is: [one] should read 바카라사이트 research ra바카라사이트r than read 바카라사이트 title of 바카라사이트 paper and 바카라사이트 journal in which it¡¯s published?

¡°We have to wean our addiction to a particular mode of publishing in ¡°journal X¡± as being 바카라사이트 arbiter, when all you¡¯re really doing is measuring how referees from a particular journal behave.¡±

john.elmes@ws-2000.com