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04/03/2016
The Research Councils have recognised the Government’s continuing support for UK research in today’s announcement of allocations from the research and innovation budget. The Councils will collectively publish a summary response on their spending plans and priorities next week.
The budget allocations follow an overall positive settlement for research in last November’s Comprehensive Spending Review at a time when many parts of public expenditure are being reduced significantly. In particular, the confirmation of the £1.5bn Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) presents an opportunity for all parts of the UK research community to play a full role in deploying our world-class capabilities and resources in support of international development.
The specific allocations of programme baselines and the nature of the funding for new GCRF activity will create pressures for individual Research Councils that may have an impact on some existing commitments. This will affect certain disciplines and initiatives and may necessitate some difficult decisions. The Research Councils will now individually and collectively be working to fully understand the implications and opportunities from the allocations and will be developing detailed delivery plans for publication in April.
Professor Philip Nelson, Chair of Research Councils UK, commented: “The Government has been clear in its belief in research as the engine for economic growth and improved wellbeing in the UK and has now clearly signalled the role research can play in international development. The Research Councils look forward to playing a leading role in developing the detail of the Global Challenge Research Fund and strongly encourage all parts of the UK research base and all disciplines to consider how their research and future priorities can be part of what will become a significant national initiative.”
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Contact:
Katie Clark
Tel: 01793 444387 or email: Katie Clark
Matt Goode
Tel: 07766 423372 or email: Matt Goode
Details of the science and research resource budget allocations for 2016 to 2020 are available here.
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