Brexit fallout, REF changes, funding gaps and more—the biggest UK research stories of the year
In 2023, ending of EU funds and concerns over R&D funding policy shifts produced some of our most-read UK news.
Selected by our editorial team, these are the Research Professional News stories that defined UK research this year.
1. ‘Nightmare’ breakdown in email service hits 50,000 academics (19 January)
Around 50,000 subscribers to UK academic mailing lists were kicked out of discussion groups after the service that ran them broke down.
2. Welsh universities warn ‘1,000 jobs at risk’ as EU funds end (27 January)
Welsh universities warned that 1,000 staff members could lose their jobs when EU structural funding ended later in year—with significant implications for economic activity in the region.
3. Wellcome shake-up leaves ‘gap’ in funding that is ‘starting to hurt’ (3 February)
Research leaders expressed concern over the removal of grant schemes for clinical researchers by health-research funder Wellcome, with one expert saying the move has left a “gap” in UK research funding that is “starting to hurt”.
4. UK participation in European fusion projects breaking down (15 March)
British participation in flagship European fusion energy projects was collapsing due to the UK being shut out of EU R&D programmes.
5. MRC change puts ‘hundreds of jobs’ at risk in the UK (29 March)
Hundreds of jobs were at risk due to a major change in how the Medical Research Council provides long-term support for research groups.
6. UK has lost out on hundreds of ERC grants amid Horizon delays (13 July)
The UK lost out on hosting almost 400 prestigious European Research Council grants in the past couple of years as a result of delayed association to the EU’s R&D programme, Horizon Europe.
7. Post-Brexit talent visa route gets just three applicants in two years (9 August)
A fast-track visa route for prize-winning researchers attracted just three applicants since launching two years ago.
8. Open-access shift ‘potentially hazardous’ for learned societies (31 August)
The transition to open-access research is “potentially hazardous” for learned societies as a large portion of their income is generated from subscription fees, the outgoing Royal Society publishing director warned.
9. Concerns grow in universities over REF research culture metrics (20 October)
Universities fear the increased emphasis on research culture in the next Research Excellence Framework could have unintended negative consequences.
10. UKRI suspension of equality panel’s work sparks resignations (1 November)
Outraged researchers were resigning as peer reviewers from the national funding agency UK Research and Innovation in protest at the suspension of the activities of an equality, diversity and inclusion panel.