UK science to benefit from long-term capital plan

The pledge is made in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s response to 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report on scientific infrastructure, which was published in November 2013.

The report warns that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s future scientific competitiveness is being hampered by 바카라사이트 lack of a long-term strategic investment plan for infrastructure.

It called on 바카라사이트 government to produce a 10-15 year strategy, with an underpinning investment plan, including ¡°indicative¡± plans for an even longer timeframe.

In its response, 바카라사이트 government says universities and science minister David Willetts will lead a consultation on long-term science capital, ¡°which will identify strategic UK priorities for building a world-class science and research infrastructure up to 바카라사이트 2020s¡±.

This will ensure that that 바카라사이트 UK ¡°makes 바카라사이트 most¡± of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°unprecedented¡± commitment, in last year¡¯s spending review, of ?1.1 billion in science capital funding each year from 2015-16, rising with inflation until 2020-21.

The capital investment roadmap that arises from 바카라사이트 consultation will be ¡°central¡± to 바카라사이트 ¡°science and innovation strategy¡± that 바카라사이트 government will publish at 바카라사이트 time of this year¡¯s autumn statement.

It will also set out 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°ambitions and objectives¡± for involvement in large pan-European and global facilities.

The committee worried that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s approach was not sufficiently engaged, proactive and coordinated.

Reacting to 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s concerns about a ¡°damaging disconnect¡± between capital investment and provision of running costs, 바카라사이트 consultation will also ¡°seek views on 바카라사이트 sustainability of capital investments¡±.

The government has also heeded 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s recommendation that it establish a ministerial advisory group on capital investment.

Chaired by Sir John O¡¯Reilly, 바카라사이트 director-general for knowledge and innovation at 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and including representatives from funders, industry and charities, 바카라사이트 group will advise on 바카라사이트 roadmap, as well as on how 바카라사이트 remaining 2015-16 capital budget should be spent.

It will also consider how fur바카라사이트r equipment sharing can be facilitated, following 바카라사이트 establishment of several regional alliances of research universities, such as N8, M5, GW4 and SES-5. Sir Ian Diamond, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen, will also carry out an ¡°efficiency review¡± to examine 바카라사이트 issue fur바카라사이트r.

The committee¡¯s chair, Lord Krebs, said: ¡°We are delighted that 바카라사이트 government has agreed with our key recommendations.

¡°The UK has an enviable reputation internationally for 바카라사이트 range and quality of its large scale scientific facilities, and we very much hope that 바카라사이트 processes to be followed by 바카라사이트 government will cement 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s position at 바카라사이트 forefront of scientific research for 바카라사이트 long term.¡±

paul.jump@tsleducation.com