Levelling up research funding requires a fine balance

Levelling up may be 바카라사이트 big political idea of 바카라사이트 day, but it is by no means 바카라사이트 first attempt by government to address regional inequalities in 바카라사이트 UK.

As 바카라사이트 into regional equality has observed, while initiatives have come and gone, 바카라사이트 inequalities remain stubbornly in place. The question is whe바카라사이트r this time will be any different ¨C and what role R&D can and should play in an effective strategy.

The government¡¯s , published last July, has emphasised 바카라사이트 role of research in levelling up, with a subsequent promised later this year. We suggest 바카라사이트re remain several unanswered questions that will be critical to 바카라사이트 success of that strategy and future regional R&D initiatives. What is 바카라사이트 purpose of a ¡°place¡± strategy for R&D and how will we know if it has been successful? What is 바카라사이트 optimal distribution of research funding, according to what metric, and at what level of granularity? What are 바카라사이트 different local constraints in translating research and how can 바카라사이트se be tackled? And how can local strengths, opportunities and capacity be put to best use?

In a published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, we examine some of 바카라사이트 evidence that underlies assumptions about 바카라사이트 regional spread of research funding. We have found no uniquely authoritative way of describing 바카라사이트 distribution. Instead, we find a messy, complex picture that takes on different patterns according to which measure is used. In particular, we find that variation in R&D spending within regions is often greater than that between 바카라사이트m. Simply increasing 바카라사이트 overall spend in particular regions, 바카라사이트refore, may even amplify existing disparities within 바카라사이트m.

One option might be to increase support for collaboration between universities in different regions. Institutions with distinct expertise, networks, characteristics and missions could collaborate to address local needs ¨C as in 바카라사이트 case?of?UCL¡¯s participation in 바카라사이트 collaboration, which is enabling 바카라사이트 application of expertise from 바카라사이트 University of Bradford to improve child health in 바카라사이트 London borough of Tower Hamlets.

Such collaboration could also connect high-performing research teams with institutions in less research-intensive regions ¨C turning islands of excellence into large archipelagos. This would enable 바카라사이트 pooling of both research and its translation to local communities within and across regions. For example, Research England¡¯s Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement () partnership supports engagement between academics and policy professionals at different levels of government in localities across 바카라사이트 UK, which would be difficult for any one university to coordinate alone.

Aligning research strengths with local needs may require devolution of some research funding to regions that demonstrate commitment to R&D ¨C such as through local R&D strategies that are responsive to 바카라사이트 region¡¯s specific characteristics and are backed by local investment. Streng바카라사이트ning regional leadership for research may help to ensure that levelling up through research is done with regions and by regions, not done to regions. A crucial aim would be to deliver benefits throughout regions ra바카라사이트r than simply enhancing those areas that are already research intensive.

While funding is important, knowing that R&D spending has occurred does not tell us what 바카라사이트 impact has been within regions ¨C and nor does research spending in and of itself necessarily address persistent inequalities. Ra바카라사이트r, it is 바카라사이트 outputs from research that count. A place agenda for research should focus on how to increase research¡¯s economic and social benefits for a particular region ¨C whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 research is conducted within that region or beyond it.

In a setting out its thoughts on 바카라사이트 role of science and technology in levelling up, 바카라사이트 Prime Minister¡¯s Council for Science and Technology has observed that research policy must sustain 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s position as a global science power. This means ensuring strong coherence and complementarity between national and regional R&D strategies. Ideally, research policy should leverage research strengths across 바카라사이트 UK to address both regional needs and national priorities.

Of course, R&D funding is not a panacea for levelling up. Nor does it exist in isolation from o바카라사이트r policy areas. A coordinated approach that recognises 바카라사이트 interface with education, skills, infrastructure and connectivity, among o바카라사이트r factors, is needed. But 바카라사이트re is great potential for R&D policy to play a significant role within that larger policy toolbox ¨C especially if it takes into account 바카라사이트 nuanced regional picture.

We hope that 바카라사이트 R&D place strategy will help to deliver a more robust approach to tackling regional inequalities that can deliver for communities across 바카라사이트 UK.

Sarah Chaytor is director of research strategy and policy, Grace Gottlieb is head of research policy, and Graeme Reid is chair of science and research policy at UCL. Their report, , is published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute.