Research funding

Academic scientists, frustrated by years of lean budgets, again urged to value stimulating corporate innovation

Wave of money is ‘truly unprecedented’, says Italian rectors’ head, but some worry the money is too focused on technology transfer and that national plans overlap

Boris Johnson’s new ministerial council has revived discussion over who controls science spending and whether industrial strategy requires government to start ‘picking winners’

Scientists for EU says country now needs a plan to regain lost ground as Horizon Europe kicks off

Applicants will have to certify that they have not been found guilty of bullying or harassment under new policy

New programme for universities modelled on version that increased racial equity within NIH’s own laboratories

Mandatory reporting of abuse allegations and anonymous whistleblowing that have led to action in US should be considered, say campaigners

Going Global session also told that funders should pool resources to ensure longer-term stability  

Polish professor warns of increasing ‘tension’ between national research funding and global science

Tally of cases since 2018 largely stems from anonymous hotline and mostly involves sexual misconduct

Recent cuts and scares have cast doubt on ministers’ commitment to harnessing science in pursuit of a levelled-up, post-Brexit innovation economy. Questions also remain about how funding should be distributed and directed. Jack Grove examines the lessons from history and from overseas

The science base, public and private, needs certainty over how promised funding increases will be spent, says Chris Skidmore

Holyrood administration announces extra cash to assist with applications to Horizon Europe

Funder’s reduced budget for 2021-22 reflects loss of pro-science adviser and mindset of new Treasury boss, say Whitehall and research council insiders

Latest attempt to replicate Darpa brings bipartisan praise but also wariness of potential harm to basic health research

Japan could take inspiration from European models, says former Max Planck head

No explanation for delay that kept 15 academics on tenterhooks for months

Total budget for UK’s main public research funder is down 5 per cent

Senior leaders question why research funder has not tried harder to save at-risk projects

Funding body confirms expected dates for cuts to overseas research projects

Researchers press for ministerial code of conduct amid fears that latest political intervention may never be resolved

Chief executive Dame Ottoline Leyser says existing ban on sharing project responsibilities does not help science

Changes to funding mechanisms can feel like a threat, but Aria will be a blast of fresh air for science and technology, says Tom Stephenson

Exclusion of science minister from Downing Street meetings is cause for concern, says former political aide

Bath academics say journals should standardise conflict of interest policies, but Philip Morris-funded foundation warns against boycott

Research council head calls for ‘long-term vision’ to end cross-border funding ‘volatility’

Imminent research cuts linked to GCRF reductions could fall heavily on UK’s regions, figures show

Vice-chancellor says philanthropy has been especially transformational in low-income countries

With suggestion that academia profits from ‘slave labour’, senators back new threat to research ties

Trudeau backs spending despite deep deficit, yet still disappoints academic researchers

Sir Adrian Smith tells MPs that scientists must redouble efforts to win European grants to offset huge drop in science funding

Senators warm to massive federal funding hike, but with greater share for non-elite institutions

Future association funding ‘fairly secure’ but must be discussed again with Treasury, says business secretary

The UK has an ambitious R&D road map but the necessary steps must be taken by politicians and funding bodies, says Andrew Thompson

Three countries even received double-digit increases in 2020, but with so much new government debt, some fear cuts could be in store further down the line

Research England head believes science funding ‘will increase in the way government has said, but perhaps not as frontloaded as we had hoped’

Higher education priorities include racial and economic diversity, and science

‘Unpredictable’ sequence of cuts and increases for UK science budgets is undermining faith in spending promises, say sector leaders

Long-term public and economic health depends on empowering universities, businesses and health systems to work together, says Michael Spence

Cost of associating to EU programme coming from BEIS budget, but £250 million injection topped up from other sources

With overseas enrolments hitting the buffers during the pandemic, debate rages over whether higher education’s excessive reliance on this income stream is self-inflicted – and how universities can keep themselves on the financial rails in future. John Ross reports

UK scientific heavyweights unite to condemn massive cuts to overseas research and urge rethink on potential UKRI reductions

Biomedical funder to widen eligibility of early career awards to encompass scholars returning from career break

A dozen flagship UK-led hubs make up around half the active grant funding from under-threat GCRF budget      

China concern drives leaders of both parties to propose nearly doubling National Science Foundation budget

Experts warn that diverting cash to pay for Horizon Europe association would exert a heavy toll on early career scholars

The cuts will hit organisations helping women and girls to evade violence and access justice, say Christine Chinkin and Sanam Naraghi Anderlini

Research projects examining humanitarian crises and school inequality the latest to come under a cloud

Analysis highlights ‘unacceptable’ disparities in racial representation in UK science

Nobelist and Crick director calls on UK government to ‘come to its senses’ over possible ‘triple whammy’ hit to science funding

Cutting existing research budgets by up to £2 billion would put ‘science superpower’ aim at risk, Greg Clark tells Boris Johnson

An open letter from academics across more than 20 European countries and Israel

Open letter on Ariel University from academics across Europe and Israel says EU has acted against its own position on settlements

Most collaboration will continue, but emphasis on building the EU’s ‘strategic autonomy’ means academics in Israel, the UK and Switzerland could be shut out of some areas

The shortfall will damage the UK’s reputation and halt projects that are making a real difference to communities worldwide, says Joanna Newman

Boris Johnson must rapidly step in after Treasury puts block on extra funding to cover Horizon Europe costs, sector figures warn

Allocation of £422 million last year cut to £125 million this year

Amid the economic ravages inflicted by the coronavirus, the EU has agreed a huge stimulus package. But while research in some countries looks set for a transformational boost, it may be a different story for teaching

Former Downing Street guru says UK’s new research agency must be freed from ‘expensive disaster zone’ of science bureaucracy

Science Foundation Ireland sets out ambitious strategy to recruit internationally as part of growth plans that pivot towards fundamental research