Gordon Brown has reconfirmed the Government’s support for science in a speech
in Oxford. The Prime Minister was delivering the 2009 Romanes Lecture, and used
the opportunity to confirm that the Government would meet its ten year commitment
to maintain science spending, pledging to maintain the ring-fence around science
funding, with investment focusing on pure fundamental science as well as applied
science.
Praising the scientific achievements of recent years, he set out his vision for
how he wanted to make Britain the best country in the world in which to be a scientist,
and described how science would be a key element in the UK's path to recovery from
recession.
Professor Ian Diamond, speaking on behalf of Research Councils UK, said: "We
welcome the commitment the Prime Minister has made to investment in science as a
national priority. We wholeheartedly endorse his recognition that British science
is leading-edge and, as such, needs sustained support across the research base to
deliver world-class results.
"Research Councils UK fund excellent research with outcomes that guarantee our
international reputation. Through our international offices in the US, India and
China, we are constantly building links with important economies and research communities.
As the Prime Minister has said, these connections will help us build on our strengths
and emerge from the downturn in the strongest possible position.
"Our knowledge transfer activities are ideally placed to help the research community
engage with the business sector and we welcome Lord Drayson's focus on extra support
for the companies which have been born out of these partnerships.
"Working together, we can make the next decade deliver social and economic benefits
for the UK which will ensure that Britain remains at the top of the knowledge economy."