Why I’m the minister for 2.4%

I feel a duty of care to protect the UK’s pre-eminence in research, whatever happens with Brexit.

I am under no illusions about how crucial the next nine months will be for science and research. Many people are understandably focused on the immediate impact of leaving the European Union, but the spending review and the final shape of future UK immigration rules, following publication of the immigration white paper last year, will also help define the UK’s position within international science and research. If we can deliver successfully on all three of these challenges, we will have the potential to redefine the science and research landscape for generations. 

As the minister responsible for protecting and delivering for our research communities both in the UK and abroad, I want our universities and research infrastructures to continue to be world leading. I want the UK to be seen not only as a destination of choice for international researchers but as a destination that delivers record levels of investment into R&D for the future. This is the year that, as a government, we need to set out a clear destination and a deliverable plan to reach it.