UK stabilizes some science funding
DOI: 10.1063/PT.4.1032
Ensuring that expenditure does not exceed revenue is the goal of many governments during the global downturn. In the UK, the government’s spending review (GSR), presented to Parliament on 20 October , cut some departments by more than 19%.
Although during the review process it appeared that science funding would be cut back dramatically, scientists were relieved to find out that their budgets will be frozen, mainly because of governmental concern over the long-term risk such cutbacks would pose to the UK’s international competitiveness and growth prospects. Moreover, the government recognized that Britain’s companies would not step in to fill a shortfall in science funding.
According to the GSR, the government will also look for ways to make science funding more efficient and similar to the Labor government’s policy, ring-fenced from further cuts to “ensure continuity of investment in science and research.”
The budget will total some $7.3 billion over four years. A number of high-profile projects, however, such as the Large Hadron Collider , are not included under the protected funds and are subject to currency fluctuations. Also to be determined are the final funding levels for capital expenditures on facilities by the research councils , money for Regional Development Agencies that can be used to finance research parks, and university funding.
In response to a related government document released on Monday—the National Infrastructure Plan —that spells out how the UK hopes to compete and innovate in high-technology areas, John Brindley of the Institute of Physics said that the NIP
lays out a commitment to invest in the equipment necessary for a science base that can underpin our economic growth, recognising that continued investment in facilities like the Diamond Synchrotron Light Source gives our scientists the very best tools to innovate.
It is apparent that the government has listened to the argument for science and agrees that keeping the UK at the forefront of world research has a strong business case. Now, with the introduction of R&D centres, we hope hi-tech business start-ups can grab the baton and use the nation’s intellectual capital to excel in world markets.
Science is the surest route to growth and, as our politicians have shown the courage to avoid short-term cuts, it is now up to the science community to help the Government deliver the economic growth the nation needs.
Amended and modified by Paul Guinnessy. The full, unmodified version appeared as “Recent Developments: Task Force on American Innovation Calls for Robust Support of Basic Research and STEM Education; UK Budget Plan Maintains Science Funding” by Richard M. Jones at AIP’s FYI.
