Innovation is key to the development of all sciences and the UK is witnessing an increasing emphasis on helping researchers to make their breakthroughs.
Key to progress is the ability of the public and private sectors and academia to work together to channel funding to the right areas required for progress to be made. Among those backing innovation is the UK Government, which is providing funding to bring together different scientific disciplines, including chemistry.
Science Minister Jo Johnson recently set out the Government’s commitment to put the UK at the forefront of research. Announcing a record £26.3 billion budget for science for the next five years, the Minister confirmed that the Government will continue to protect the science budget of £4.7 billion in real-terms. It will also continue to invest in scientific infrastructure on a record scale with £5.8 billion capital committed between now and 2021. The budget includes the introduction of the £1.5 billion Global Challenges Research Fund, which will be used to invest in British science projects and businesses looking to tackle some of the planet’s life-threatening issues, bringing together scientists from the various disciplines.
Jo Johnson said: “From the invention of the lightbulb to the creation of the worldwide web, UK scientists have been instrumental in many of the world’s most significant discoveries, and we are determined to continue this legacy on a global scale. “In a time of tight control over public spending, we have guaranteed record investment for UK scientists so they can help us tackle climate change, produce disease-resistant crops and cure rare diseases. “The Government is delivering a decade of sustained investment in science, and as long as scientists continue to discover, innovate, and drive economic growth we will continue to stand right behind them.”
Jo Johnson also confirmed that the system providing two streams of research funding grants – some awarded competitively, some as block grants for universities to invest according to their own priorities – will be protected. These allocations see the balance shift in favour of university block grants – by 2020, 65p is due to be allocated directly for every £1 allocated to Research Councils, up from the current level of 63p. The Government has also pledged that funding for higher education will include £400 million to foster and strengthen university collaboration with the private sector through the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund from 2018 until 2021. This builds on the earlier success of the partnership, which provided more than £500 million to help higher education institutions across the UK secure over £1.4 billion of co-investment from business and charity partners.
