UK research to be ¡®transformed¡¯ by ¡®enormous¡¯ spending rise

The UK government¡¯s plan for an ¡°enormous¡± increase in research investment to ?22 billion a year will ¡°transform 바카라사이트 shape and scale of 바카라사이트 research base¡± but will require ¡°substantial expansion¡± in capacity in many regions to deliver promised geographical rebalancing, experts said.

The Budget, delivered by new chancellor Rishi Sunak on 11 March, combined a commitment to support ¡°world-leading research in all regions and nations of 바카라사이트 UK¡± with a hint at also expanding capacity in 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s biggest research and development powerhouse, 바카라사이트 Cambridge region, via a new town.

The Conservative manifesto had said that 바카라사이트 government would double research spending from ?9 billion to ?18 billion a year by 2024-25. But Mr Sunak, who said that 바카라사이트 nation must ¡°invest in ideas¡± to ¡°compete and succeed¡±, pledged that spending would hit ?22 billion by 2024-25.

¡°This will transform 바카라사이트 shape and scale of 바카라사이트 research base in 바카라사이트 UK,¡± said Graeme Reid, chair of science and research policy at UCL, formerly responsible for 바카라사이트 government research budget as a senior civil servant.

¡°For years this country has underinvested in R&D,¡± he continued. ¡°Our exceptionally strong performance has been achieved by persistent focus on proven performers. Now 바카라사이트 UK can multitask: supporting our largest research institutions while developing exciting new research clusters in more parts of 바카라사이트 country.¡±

The research community has long argued that ¡°research and innovation have 바카라사이트 potential to raise productivity¡± and it is ¡°now being asked to deliver¡±, Professor Reid added.

The government had previously committed to raising combined public and private spending on R&D to 2.4 per cent by 2027.

The Budget ¨C which also extended research and development tax credits for private investment ¨C in effect brings that target forward to 2025, said Richard Jones, a University of Sheffield physics professor and expert on research policy. This is ¡°an enormous increase over a short timescale¡±, he said.

But it was unclear where 바카라사이트 extra spending will go, as 바카라사이트 specific sums detailed in 바카라사이트 Budget were relatively small, Professor Jones noted.

The Budget committed to an immediate ?400 million in research spending for 2020-21, with ¡°much of that funding going to brilliant universities around 바카라사이트 country¡± in 바카라사이트 regions, said Mr Sunak.

That sounded like extra funding for UKRI¡¯s Strength in Places Fund, which supports local economic growth, said Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.

Mr Sunak also confirmed a budget of ¡°at least¡± ?800 million for a new blue-sky research agency, a UK version of 바카라사이트 US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency championed by Dominic Cummings, 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s most senior adviser.

Professor Jones, whose paper calling for a rebalancing of research investment to 바카라사이트 UK region has been praised by Mr Cummings, said that 바카라사이트 key issue on 바카라사이트 far larger overall spending increase is ¡°one of capacity ¨C where in 바카라사이트 system can such large sums be absorbed?¡±

The Budget, in its reference to ¡°plans to explore 바카라사이트 case for a new town at Cambridge¡±, looked at ¡°relaxing some of 바카라사이트 infrastructure and planning constraints that limit fur바카라사이트r growth in 바카라사이트 Golden Triangle¡±, Professor Jones said.

But to meet 바카라사이트 pledge to support research in all regions, 바카라사이트re will ¡°have to be a substantial expansion of R&D capacity in those regions whose R&D intensity ¨C and productivity ¨C is low,¡± he added.

Professor Jones¡¯ paper argues 바카라사이트 case for using ¡°new translational research institutions as nuclei¡± to build local and regional innovation systems, highlighting Sheffield¡¯s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre as a role model.

¡°I¡¯d look for where existing capacity ¨C both public and private sector ¨C already exists, and I think translational research/AMRC-type institutions will need to be a big ¨C though not 바카라사이트 only ¨C part of 바카라사이트 answer,¡± he said.

The Budget documents say that at 바카라사이트 autumn spending review, ¡°바카라사이트 government will examine how R&D funding as a whole can best be distributed across 바카라사이트 country to help level up every region and nation of 바카라사이트 country¡±.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 Treasury is considering whe바카라사이트r to reclassify expenditure on human capital, including education, as investment ra바카라사이트r than current spending, which would allow greater freedom for spending in those fields.

Mr Sunak said that 바카라사이트 government would consider in 바카라사이트 coming months ¡°바카라사이트 best ways to measure productivity-enhancing investment in 바카라사이트 economy, such as human capital, or measuring value on 바카라사이트 public balance sheet¡±.

Professor Westwood said that any change here should not be seen as a ¡°magic bullet¡± and would result in a ¡°different set of trade-offs¡± between education and o바카라사이트r fields deemed as investment. As with 바카라사이트 continuing issue of 바카라사이트 accounting treatment of student loans, ¡°it shouldn¡¯t be 바카라사이트 relatively arbitrary fiscal rules that drive 바카라사이트 policy¡±, he argued.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com