UK News
Read more on Halfon: Government ‘doing everything’ to support students
Minister claims financial support is there, opposition says government does not understand scale of issues
ViewUKRI reveals allocations of additional QR funding
UKRI reveals allocations of additional QR funding
£100 million shared among universities to address ongoing uncertainty over access to EU schemes
ViewEx-science minister to quit as MP and focus on net zero
Ex-science minister to quit as MP and focus on net zero
Chris Skidmore to dedicate career to “greatest challenge” of helping government meet its 2050 target
ViewUK should ‘redouble’ efforts to boost life sciences R&D
UK should ‘redouble’ efforts to boost life sciences R&D
More needs to be done to keep life science companies in UK, says government body
Latest
ViewFears for UK’s vaccine R&D as firm pauses construction of centre
Fears for UK’s vaccine R&D as firm pauses construction of centre
Suspension of construction on Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre described as “disappointing” and “worrying”
ViewParty leaders promise businesses innovation and skills
Party leaders promise businesses innovation and skills
Rishi Sunak tells CBI he wants innovation, while Keir Starmer backs green growth and skills
ViewR&D faces billion-pound funding blows
R&D faces billion-pound funding blows
Autumn statement: chancellor ringfences science spending but inflation and rule changes could hit R&D
ViewMonth end
Month end
More strikes, Ucas on care leavers, IFS on cost of living, but the USS improves
ViewStudent vote
Student vote
This week sees a by-election in a university town
ViewHealth research funding to ‘build on Vaccine Taskforce success’
Health research funding to ‘build on Vaccine Taskforce success’
Cancer, obesity, mental health and addiction targeted in £113 million push
ViewSpeaking Welch
Speaking Welch
Playbook meets the vice-chancellor of the University of Bristol
ViewUK medical charities expand remit of open research platform
UK medical charities expand remit of open research platform
Association of Medical Research Charities’ Open Research platform opens up to international health researchers
ViewResearch ‘playing second fiddle’ to clinical care in NHS
Research ‘playing second fiddle’ to clinical care in NHS
Clinical academic calls for NHS culture change, so research is seen as more mainstream
ViewState of play
State of play
Braverman is at it again, plus data on graduate outcomes, loans, migration and research students’...
ViewR&D tax credits expected to cost Treasury £7.5bn this year
R&D tax credits expected to cost Treasury £7.5bn this year
Estimates come amid major shake-up of tax relief—including cuts to support for small businesses
ViewUK’s £22bn R&D spending target seemingly dropped
UK’s £22bn R&D spending target seemingly dropped
Treasury official avoids confirming that previously set target for 2026-27 remains in place
ViewUK releases £200m to mitigate Copernicus association delays
UK releases £200m to mitigate Copernicus association delays
Funding to support Earth observation amid instability as UK remains blocked from EU scheme
ViewAction stations
Action stations
As a fresh wave of strikes gets underway today, Chris Parr listens to last-minute pitches
ViewHydrogen, health and climate change top Ramaphosa UK visit
Hydrogen, health and climate change top Ramaphosa UK visit
Science takes prominence as South African president is first head of state hosted by King
ViewLondon mayor vows to use regional funds for R&D
London mayor vows to use regional funds for R&D
Sector welcomes announcement to “put universities and research institutes at heart of drive for growth”
ViewChi Onwurah sets out Labour’s vision for R&D
Chi Onwurah sets out Labour’s vision for R&D
Shadow science minister tells Royal Society event government promises need to be “matched with actions”
ViewMoving goalposts
Moving goalposts
The annual estimate of R&D expenditure is out and guess what?
ViewBusiness R&D increased by £3bn between 2020 and 2021
Business R&D increased by £3bn between 2020 and 2021
But small businesses complain of dangers ahead following slashed tax credit support
ViewKeir Starmer wants to prioritise skills and green growth
Keir Starmer wants to prioritise skills and green growth
New Industrial Strategy Council would apply “creative brilliance of our scientists and universities” to industry
ViewSector welcomes science minister role confirmation
Sector welcomes science minister role confirmation
Freeman’s return praised, but minister is urged to work closely with Ghani, whose beat overlaps
ViewPrepare for action
Prepare for action
Universities set out their stall ahead of strike action later this week
ViewUK announces nearly £500m to cope with Horizon uncertainty
UK announces nearly £500m to cope with Horizon uncertainty
“We cannot wait forever” for association to EU R&D programmes, says science minister
ViewSunak to use ‘Brexit freedoms’ to encourage innovation
Sunak to use ‘Brexit freedoms’ to encourage innovation
Prime minister tells CBI conference he wants “most pro-innovation regulatory environment in the world”
ViewUK government seeks business views on artificial intelligence
UK government seeks business views on artificial intelligence
Ipsos carrying out survey to inform government policy, as Sunak underlines importance of AI innovation
ViewScience minister role split finally revealed
Science minister role split finally revealed
Freeman assigned science and Ghani industry, as Beis reveals portfolios weeks after ministers were appointed
ViewBack in the room
Back in the room
The mood music is changing for the government and universities, but what is the reality?
ViewUK’s Catapult innovation centres to get £1.6 billion over five years
UK’s Catapult innovation centres to get £1.6 billion over five years
Network of technology and innovation centres receives 35 per cent budget uplift in autumn statement
ViewProlonged aid freeze will ‘damage UK’s global research reputation’
Prolonged aid freeze will ‘damage UK’s global research reputation’
Experts criticise chancellor’s decision to further delay return to overseas aid target during economic crisis
ViewTreasury repeats commitment to Horizon Europe budget
Treasury repeats commitment to Horizon Europe budget
If UK does not associate to EU R&D programme, budget will cover “ambitious alternative”
ViewMore Nature journals to provide data-sharing option
More Nature journals to provide data-sharing option
Publisher extends integration with open-access repository Figshare to more titles in its portfolio
ViewAutumn budget brings delight and disappointment to R&D sector
Autumn budget brings delight and disappointment to R&D sector
Experts welcome R&D budget protection, but question details on aid, tax credits and Horizon Europe
ViewChina closes gap on list of most highly cited researchers
China closes gap on list of most highly cited researchers
Nearly 7,000 researchers demonstrate “disproportionate level” of influence in their field