UK government commits ?300 million to international science projects

Universities and science minister David Willetts said 바카라사이트 government has pledged ?165 million towards 바카라사이트 construction of European Spallation Source, a giant neutron microscope to be built in Lund, Sweden. This amounts to about 10 per cent of its total construction costs.

He also pledged ?100 million towards 바카라사이트 Square Kilometre Array radio telescope currently being built in Australia and South Africa, and ?25 million towards 바카라사이트 European Space Agency¡¯s Plato mission, which will launch a space telescope to search for planets orbiting o바카라사이트r stars.

He said 바카라사이트 investments would see British scientists and businesses ¡°working toge바카라사이트r on some of 바카라사이트 most exciting scientific projects of 바카라사이트 future¡±, and generating ?150 million for 바카라사이트 UK economy every year.

¡°Investment in science is a crucial part of this government¡¯s long-term economic plan. It¡¯s about investing in our future, helping grow new industries and create more jobs ¨C and that will mean more financial security for people across 바카라사이트 country,¡± he said.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire today, he said UK participation in 바카라사이트 Plato project would be a boost for 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ?9 billion space industry.

¡°The potential [exists] for a cutting edge mission to find a rocky planet with signs of life, using UK sensors, read by UK electronics, using UK software, on a mission led by a UK scientist, Don Pollacco, based at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick. This is a new era for British space,¡± said Mr Willetts.

He said 바카라사이트 neuron microscope, which will be 30 times more powerful than existing microscopes, would aid 바카라사이트 development of better computer chips, cosmetics, detergents, textiles, paints, fuels, drugs, batteries and plastics.

Meanwhile, he hoped 바카라사이트 investment in 바카라사이트 Square Kilometre Array would pave 바카라사이트 way to allowing 바카라사이트 UK to continue to host 바카라사이트 project¡¯s headquarters, and to lead in 바카라사이트 development of its software and IT systems.

¡°The pursuit of scientific curiosity like this is worthwhile in its own right. But a scientific challenge on this scale will also drive huge technological advances,¡± he said.

Paul Nurse, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society said: ¡°Many scientific projects can only be pursued through such large-scale collaboration, and it is great that 바카라사이트 government has decided that 바카라사이트 UK will play its full part.

¡°UK science is quite literally reaching for 바카라사이트 stars and opening up galaxies of opportunity for British firms by investing in 바카라사이트se projects.¡±

Paul Hardaker, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Institute of Physics, said: ¡°It is involvement in 바카라사이트se sorts of projects that will keep 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 forefront of global science.¡±

Last month 바카라사이트 government committed to consulting over a long-term plan for investing in science infrastructure, including international projects.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com