New fund must recognise role of R&D in prosperity, says UKRI

UK government plans to replace the European Union’s structural funds after Brexit must mimic the enormous benefit to science provided by such EU funds, UK Research and Innovation has said.

Rebecca Endean, outgoing director of strategy at the umbrella funding agency UKRI, told the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on 26 March that places such as Wales have “benefitted hugely” from the EU’s structural and investment funds, some of which have supported science and innovation infrastructure in underperforming regions.

Echoing Endean, UKRI’s chief executive Mark Walport said: “There is no question that the structural funds have been important for research and innovation in Wales, in Northern Ireland and in the west country.”