Fender backs dual support

THE DUAL support system of funding research is an effective way of combatting universities' understandable though potentially damaging short-term pursuit of project grants, according to Higher Education Funding Council chief Brian Fender.

Professor Fender, due to speak at this week's HEFCE annual conference at Warwick University, was also expected to reveal his proposal to boost capital investment in science and engineering research by Pounds 30 million a year, starting in January 1998.

Professor Fender said that infrastructure was often neglected by universities which trim their capital bids in order to maximise their chances of winning grants.

He said that the present dual system of support had served Britain well.