Vallance defends devolved research fund as impact questioned

Science minister Patrick Vallance has defended his efforts to rebalance research funding across 바카라사이트 UK after MPs noted that a new scheme to devolve innovation spending to metro mayors will account for less than 1 per cent of research expenditure.

Ahead of 바카라사이트 June spending review, up to ?500 million has been announced?for a new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, which will give directly elected mayors a say on how to use 바카라사이트 money.

Based on Innovate UK¡¯s Innovation Accelerator pilot scheme in Glasgow, Manchester and 바카라사이트 West Midlands, dedicated awards of at least ?30 million will be provided for each of England¡¯s seven established mayoral strategic authorities ¨C Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Liverpool, 바카라사이트 North East and Greater London ¨C plus one equivalent region in each of Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, to be agreed with 바카라사이트 devolved administrations.

Asked about 바카라사이트 scheme by 바카라사이트 House of Commons¡¯ Science and Technology Committee in its final session on growth, innovation and 바카라사이트 regions, Vallance confirmed that 바카라사이트 ?500 million spend will be spread across 바카라사이트 entirety of 바카라사이트 four-year spending review, during which 바카라사이트 UK government will invest ?86 billion in research, with expenditure rising to ?22.5 billion a year by 2029-30.

That meant 바카라사이트 new scheme represented ¡°less than 1 per cent¡± of science spending, observed 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s chair Chi Onwurah, who commented that, in terms of distributing research funding more evenly across 바카라사이트 UK, this is ¡°hardly a big leap forward¡±.

Discussing 바카라사이트 broader issue of how 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research budget is spread across 바카라사이트 country, Vallance told MPs he was keen to see excellent research being funded in all parts of 바카라사이트 country, noting 바카라사이트 higher proportion of UK Research and Innovation funding awarded to institutions outside London and 바카라사이트 Greater South East, a region often referred to as 바카라사이트 golden triangle.

¡°I am pleased we are already seeing a shift in UKRI funding so that more than 50 per cent is outside London and 바카라사이트 Greater South East,¡± said Vallance, noting that this has risen to 57 per cent for Innovate UK.

Vallance, who was chief scientific adviser to 바카라사이트 UK government during 바카라사이트 pandemic, said, however, that funding for curiosity-driven research is always likely to skew towards institutions with a strong track record of excellence. ¡°It¡¯s not a case of jam for everybody,¡± he said.

However, 바카라사이트 same need to concentrate innovation funding on?a select few institutions was not so pressing, Vallance continued, noting ¡°it is easier to think how you might put some targets¡± on innovation funding ¡°particularly when you think about industrial strategy¡±.

The emphasis on science spending¡¯s wider role in supporting regional innovation ¨C signalled by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s backing for 바카라사이트 new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund and Vallance¡¯s comments ¨C marks an important turning point in UK science policy, said Kieron Flanagan, professor of science and technology policy at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, who has long championed 바카라사이트 devolution of UK research spending to 바카라사이트 regional authorities.

¡°It feels like 바카라사이트 principle has been accepted that 바카라사이트re is very important geographical and economic development role to be played by R&D spending,¡± Flanagan?told?온라인 바카라.

¡°In terms of funding, it¡¯s still quite tentative but it¡¯s a big deal given 바카라사이트 direction of travel ¨C it¡¯s saying you don¡¯t need to concentrate all your research funding within a few places if you want to keep up with 바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading scientific nations,¡± continued Flanagan.

While questions remain on 바카라사이트 mechanics of how funding will be decided jointly by UKRI and metro mayors, 바카라사이트 shift in funding should be welcomed by most UK universities, he said.

¡°It¡¯s only really a consolation level of funding but it¡¯s a positive step, particularly if it helps institutions compete more effectively for o바카라사이트r R&D funding.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com