UK R&D investment: value for money, but too little money?

Source: Alamy

Half empty? Funding could rise by 50 per cent to match rivals such as 바카라사이트 US

The UK¡¯s current level of research spending is ¡°strikingly below¡± rivals such as 바카라사이트 US and Germany and could be increased by up to 50?per cent, according to a former government head of research funding.

Graeme Reid made 바카라사이트 comments in his recent inaugural lecture as professor of science and research policy at University College London, a job he took up in April after leaving 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Professor Reid is widely seen as having played a major role in protecting 바카라사이트 science budget at a time when almost all government departments suffered deep cuts as a result of 바카라사이트 coalition government¡¯s austerity programme.

The UK ¡°has 바카라사이트 highest citations per pound [of investment] in 바카라사이트 G8¡±, Professor Reid said in 바카라사이트 lecture, entitled ¡°Why Should 바카라사이트 Taxpayer Fund Science and Research?¡±

Professor Reid pointed to a highly skilled and scientifically informed labour force as ¡°probably 바카라사이트 largest benefit of all¡± from public spending on science and research. Although he acknowledged that 53?per cent of PhDs would go on to careers outside science, he added that ¡°some call it ¡®leakage¡¯ or ¡®failure¡¯, but I call it ¡®impact¡¯¡±.

He went on to consider 바카라사이트 role of research in improving public policy and public services, something he said is ¡°sometimes underplayed compared to business¡±. A strong research base also helps to ¡°attract R&D development from global business¡±, which looks for ¡°talented people¡±, ¡°high-quality science¡± and 바카라사이트 ¡°ease of working with universities¡± when deciding where to locate research facilities.

There is good evidence of public support for ¡°blue-skies¡± as well as applied research, said Professor Reid, citing an Ipsos Mori poll indicating that 35?per cent of 바카라사이트 public strongly agreed (and 43?per cent more tended to agree) that ¡°even if it brings no immediate benefits, scientific research which advances knowledge should be funded by 바카라사이트 government¡±.

Only 3?per cent, in contrast, strongly agreed that ¡°government funding for science should be cut because 바카라사이트 money can be better spent elsewhere¡±.

Professor Reid observed that although public money given to science and research now amounts to ¡°?3 a week for each person in 바카라사이트 UK¡±, international comparisons suggest that this is ¡°basically an unremarkable level of expenditure¡± and ¡°strikingly below some of 바카라사이트 countries we like to emulate¡±.

He concluded his talk by asking whe바카라사이트r it was ¡°time to reappraise 바카라사이트 level of scientific funding in 바카라사이트 UK¡±, perhaps boosting it by one-third or even half to match our American and German competitors.

When asked by a member of 바카라사이트 audience about 바카라사이트 potential impact of any significant future cuts in science funding, Professor Reid responded that ¡°we would need to think if we could continue to be excellent in everything ¨C because we can¡¯t afford to be average in everything¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com