Funding R&D in Departments
- Government set ambitious targets for the period 2004-2014 to encourage increases of public and private R&D investment[1]. There is a presumption in favour of funding being maintained real terms[2], but preferably increasing over time to improve overall UK investment in evidence-based policy-making[3].
- Every department should develop and maintain a costed Science and Innovation Strategy (or 'Evidence Strategies') for the current Spending Review period and for longer-term commitments[4].
- The GCSA should work closely with CSAs and Treasury to support a commitment to excellence in policy-making through adequate research funding for departmental policy, cross-cutting research[5], Joint PSA[6] delivery and longer-term strategic planning[7], [8], [9]. This will be done by:
- Departments consulting the GCSA early if they plan reductions in R&D spending from sums identified during Spending Reviews[10], [11], [12], [13].
- R&D costings being clearly identified to Treasury[14] when preparing for Spending Reviews, and copied to the GCSA[15], [16].
-
CSAC leading an annual review of cross-cutting priorities with leadership from CSAs from relevant departments[17].
- Departments should pay full economic cost (FEC) for all research obtained through Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)[18] .
- Departments should consider the use of merged budgets to meet cross-cutting challenges and the GCSA will explore options for ring-fencing[19].
- Departments to consider options for directing some of their R&D towards encouraging innovation[20], including commitment to Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) where relevant[21].
