Criticism of government mounts over cuts to aid-funded research

Vice-chancellors question how cuts square with government rhetoric on becoming a ‘science superpower’

Research and higher education leaders have hit out at swingeing cuts to UK development research, saying the decimation of research funded through international aid undermines government promises and stands to severely damage the country’s reputation abroad.

The cuts stem from the government’s decision to reduce the UK aid budget from 0.7 to 0.5 per cent of gross national income and will hit projects funded by the Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF), the Newton Fund and other schemes.