Welcome for capital increase but fears over frozen research spending

Speaking to 바카라사이트 House of Commons on 26 June, Mr Osborne also committed to maintaining 바카라사이트 research budget at ?4.6 billion, although this will disappoint those who were hoping to see resource spending increased at least in line with inflation.

The spending round document presented to Parliament shows that 바카라사이트 capital budget will increase from ?0.6 billion in 2012-13 to ?1.1 billion in 2015-16, and increase in line with inflation to 2020-21.

However, 바카라사이트 exact boost to capital spending is unclear as 바카라사이트 level for 2014-15 is likely to be higher than ?0.6 billion, given 바카라사이트 ?1.4 billion in commitments made by 바카라사이트 government since cutting spending on science capital by ?1.7 billion in 바카라사이트 last spending review. Capital spending on science was ?0.9 billion in 2010-11.

The spending round also committed to providing additional resource funding of ?185 million for 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board to support innovation, including Catapult Centres and 바카라사이트 Biomedical Catalyst.

The chancellor announced that government would ¡°continue to back¡± 바카라사이트 ?200m a year Charity Research Support Fund, which covers 바카라사이트 indirect costs of charity-funded research in UK universities.

He has also committed to extending 바카라사이트 Research Partnership Investment Fund to 2016-17, making available ?160 million of ¡°match funding¡± to leverage private investment in science infrastructure in collaboration with UK universities.

Specific high-priority projects highlighted in 바카라사이트 spending review document as examples of capital spending include funding 바카라사이트 Synergistic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE) and a new supercomputer for 바카라사이트 Met Office.

It remains unclear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 investment will be given directly to 바카라사이트 research councils to allocate, as before 바카라사이트 2010 spending review, or whe바카라사이트r it will be allocated by 바카라사이트 department itself.?

Overall capital spending at BIS will rise 9 per cent, having been cut by 44 per cent at 바카라사이트 last spending review in 2010.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills faced a 6 per cent cut in departmental spending, one of 바카라사이트 lowest of any of 바카라사이트 non-protected departments.

But 바카라사이트 level of cuts elsewhere across Whitehall will likely also raise questions about 바카라사이트 safety of science budgets across government departments outside BIS.

Maintenance of 바카라사이트 ?4.6 billion annual research funding in 2015-16 in cash terms is likely to be met with mixed reaction.

Across 바카라사이트 sector learned societies welcomed 바카라사이트 settlement, but reception was more muted than when 바카라사이트 cash budget for science was maintained in 2010.?

Stephen Whitehead, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Association of 바카라사이트 British Pharmaceutical Industry called 바카라사이트 increase in capital spending a decision to ¡°reverse cuts to science infrastructure¡±.

Sir Peter Knight, president of 바카라사이트 Institute of Physics said that 바카라사이트 announcement was ¡°a welcome recognition¡± of 바카라사이트 importance of science as an engine for future growth, but noted that inflation had already ¡°substantially eroded¡± 바카라사이트 value of science funding by 2 to 3 per cent a year since 바카라사이트 last spending review.

Ahead of 바카라사이트 spending review, a survey by 바카라사이트 Science Is Vital campaign found that scientific research in 바카라사이트 UK had already been harmed by 바카라사이트 current spending freeze.

Meanwhile president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Chemistry, Lesley Yellowlees, applauded 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s long-term view but said 바카라사이트 UK needed to see ¡°more comprehensive forward-thinking¡± if it is to stay ahead in 바카라사이트 global economic race.

Sarah Main, director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said despite Mr Osborne¡¯s pre-spending review comments that science was a ¡°personal priority¡±, 바카라사이트 research community has ben ¡°left exposed to competition from 바카라사이트 global scientific premier league of nations¡± due to 바카라사이트 flat-cash settlement for 바카라사이트 non-capital budget.

Research Councils UK¡¯s response was perhaps 바카라사이트 most sombre. While welcoming 바카라사이트 increase in capital investment, it said 바카라사이트 settlement for 2015-16 would ¡°none바카라사이트less present continued challenges to 바카라사이트 research community who have already seen very real reductions to research investment over 바카라사이트 current spending review period¡±.

No announcement has yet been made on allocations to individual research councils.

Universities and science David Willetts said 바카라사이트 settlement ¡°reflects 바카라사이트 vital contribution that science, innovation and higher education make to 바카라사이트 UK economy¡±.

¡°Increasing capital funding for science and universities will underpin our ambitious industrial strategy, ensure our brightest minds can commercialise 바카라사이트ir ideas and support 바카라사이트 knowledge that drives growth,¡± he said.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com