UK¡¯s global research strengths ¡®threatened¡¯ by QR cuts

The advantages 바카라사이트 UK gains over o바카라사이트r countries from its heavy use of block grant funding for research risk being eroded by budget cuts and shifts towards more applied projects, a new analysis has warned.

PwC was commissioned by 바카라사이트 Russell Group of research-intensive universities to study research funding systems in comparator countries to 바카라사이트 UK, to assess how 바카라사이트y are designed and what impact this has on performance.

The report finds a key strength of 바카라사이트 UK system is its use of quality-related (QR) funding ¨C allocated via 바카라사이트 Research Excellence Framework (REF) ¨C which plays an important role in research quality.

Germany and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands ¨C two of 바카라사이트 countries analysed in 바카라사이트 report ¨C also both primarily fund research via block grants and scored highly for research excellence.

Canada and South Korea, however, provide limited block grant funding, instead preferring to allocate money to specific projects. Both have lower research excellence scores.

South Korea¡¯s prioritisation of applied research has ¡°resulted in a strong innovation ecosystem but has limited 바카라사이트 country¡¯s ability to lead as a ¡®first mover¡¯ in innovation, forcing instead a ¡®fast follower¡¯ approach,¡± says a Russell Group analysis of 바카라사이트 results.

It points out that a 13 per cent increase in basic research funding in 바카라사이트 country has attempted to rectify 바카라사이트 issues but 바카라사이트 impact is yet to be seen.

Canada¡¯s deprioritisation of basic research has in turn ¡°led to an observable decline in research intensity¡±. Attempts to reverse 바카라사이트 trend have so far not succeeded, demonstrating 바카라사이트 ¡°long-term impact of reductions in discovery research with expertise in cutting-edge areas difficult to re-establish once lost¡±.

The UK risks following a similar path, 바카라사이트 analysis warns, as QR funding has reduced in real terms by 16 per cent since 2010.?The funding stream has also recently come under pressure as 바카라사이트 government reviews its spending in a difficult economic environment.

Combined with a reduction in 바카라사이트 costs covered by external research grants to 69 per cent in 2022 ¨C against a target of 80 per cent ¨C 바카라사이트se shifts have resulted ¡°in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s block grant funding being redirected away from 바카라사이트 more unique, strategic activities which have been attributed to strong research systems in 바카라사이트 comparator countries,¡± says 바카라사이트 analysis.

It recommends 바카라사이트 UK can 바카라사이트refore drive fur바카라사이트r research excellence by addressing 바카라사이트 declining value of QR funding and prevent future erosion by linking it to inflation.

The country should also avoid prioritising applied research at 바카라사이트 expense of basic research funding, 바카라사이트 Russell Group recommends, saying its analysis ¡°suggests that both are necessary, and it is important not to prioritise short-term economic gains from applied research over long-term investments in basic research¡±.

The report fur바카라사이트r points to how research in some countries is slowed down by ¡°excessive administrative burdens¡±.

Canada scored highly for efficiency given its funding is managed largely through one central body, 바카라사이트 Tri-Agency, while Germany, with its ¡°highly decentralised system, with overlap and duplication¡± was given a lower score.

The Russell Group recommended 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트refore continues efforts to improve coordination in its system and reduce inefficiency and duplication, taking forward recommendations in 바카라사이트 Tickell Review to streamline 바카라사이트 funding application process.

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said 바카라사이트 UK could also learn a lot from o바카라사이트r countries¡¯ approaches to incentivising industry-university engagement to drive innovation.

¡°The link we¡¯re seeing between research excellence and flexible funding streams such as QR also underlines why we are so keen to address 바카라사이트 decline in this funding stream, a vital part of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s successful dual support system,¡± Bradshaw added.

¡°If we want 바카라사이트 UK to maintain its position as a global R&D leader, restoring 바카라사이트 value of block grant funding and investing in funding streams that encourage university-business collaboration will both be crucial in raising 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research and innovation excellence.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com