RCUK welcome new £100 million investment in research

Research Councils UK (RCUK) is delighted to welcome the new £100 million investment in research facilities announced by the Chancellor George Osborne during his budget today (23 March). Despite the challenges facing the research community, especially in light of reductions to capital budgets, this new investment is a boost to UK research. It reinforces the message that research is vital to the economic growth, prosperity and social wellbeing of the UK.

RCUK is committed to supporting excellent research across a wide range of disciplines and providing access to a full range of world-class research facilities. This investment reflects that position and confirms the value that Government has placed on research.

The following facilities will benefit from the newly announced funding:

• £80 million to develop the national research campuses at Daresbury, Norwich and Cambridge.
• £10 million for three further testing facilities at the ISIS neutron source in Harwell.
• £10 million to start a National Space Technology Programme to be match-funded by industry.

This follows the announcement last week by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts of a £45 million Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) investment in nine new Centres for Innovative Manufacturing. These national centres will focus on emerging science including biological pharmaceuticals, novel composite technologies, and intelligent automation, helping generate the new ideas that will fuel growth.

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Further information

Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592

Notes to editors

1. More information about the EPSRC investment is available here

2. More information about today's announcement is available here

3. Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.

   The seven UK Research Councils are:

   • Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
   • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
   • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
   • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
   • Medical Research Council (MRC);
   • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
   • Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).