Research funding to be spread across the regions, says Johnson

New minister says government will harness universities’ research capabilities to boost economic growth.

Jo Johnson, the science and universities minister, has told MPs that science and research will underpin the Conservative government’s regional growth strategy. However he has ruled out setting any target for science spending.

Speaking during a debate in Westminster today, Johnson said that the UK regions are “at the heart of the government’s economic strategy” and that it will work to ensure research funding is not “hyper-concentrated areas” such as London and the south east of England. In his first few weeks in the science and universities role, he said, he had been “paying close attention” to the issue. “The extra gear our economy needs is to be found in the research and development capabilities in our universities and in our regions, as well as the golden triangle,” he said.