Research funding

Research funders and universities condemn planned yearly reductions of more than 460 million Swiss francs 

Failure to improve translation of ‘laudable’ research output will see country ‘slide into mediocrity’, reviewers warn

Science minister tells Commons committee that he is more interested in maximising impact of science spending than increasing total outlay, as he emphasises need to get visa policies ‘right’

With success rates below 10 per cent in a recent funding round, pressure on scholars to secure grants may not be realistic, warns leading economist

UK society for American studies has funding removed for not complying with US Embassy request on new president’s diversity policies

Year-long succession process and budget delays have prompted speculation over possible reforms to £1 billion UK innovation research agency

Hugh Brady warns 16 per cent fall in real-terms value of recurrent grant funding ‘threatens the very foundations of British science’

Scouring funded grant applications for ‘woke’ terminology is ‘chilling’, say top US researchers alarmed by defunding threats

Social sciences ‘the proverbial canary in the coalmine’ for restrictions in other areas of research, dean warns

European Commission-published Competitiveness Compass raises fears of political interference

Draft 2025 budget could be devastating for research, universities and students, academics warn

From cancelled guest lectures to disrupted clinical trials, the damage to US science caused by a grant approval freeze is mounting, but further problems lie ahead

Government ‘cherry-picked’ ideas with commercial application, despite reviewer warnings against ‘naive’ expectations of windfall profits, scientists say

White House directive to pause external communications causes chaos at America’s main science funder

Unexpected upsides of ‘randomised’ funding include greater acceptance among rejected applicants, says British Academy head

Lack of joined-up thinking and decline in funding has seen UK fall behind rivals, says House of Lords report

Research England chair warned that universities in devolved nations disadvantaged by lack of dedicated research culture funding

Parliamentarians warn removal of funding for UK in a Changing Europe might be seen as ‘deprioritisation of impact-based work’, given its success

Agreement between coalition and opposition parties to reduce budget cuts does little to assuage sector leaders’ fears 

Scientists from the favoured areas raise the strongest objections

Dividing second pillar of FP10 into two councils could ‘weaken programme’s collaborative spirit’, European umbrella body warns

English universities within empowered metro-mayor areas could gain research advantage over Scottish peers, warns umbrella group

Long timeline for review heralded almost a year ago by another review

If we rely on industry to bankroll research, we lose sight of problems that do not interest industry, technologist warns

Protest comes as House of Representatives prepares to debate controversial cuts to higher education and research of more than €1 billion

The president of Technical University of Munich explains his recipe for breaking down silos while retaining deep disciplinary strength

Promote teamwork to improve gender equity, Australian analysis suggests

New doctoral training schemes will simplify and harmonise the support offered to funded PhD students, says UK Research and Innovation

Addressing the sector’s woes has, at best, been kicked down the road to next year’s spending review. How disappointing, says Nick Hillman

NWO initiative seeks to address concerns about sustainability of free to read, free to publish model

Ex-shadow minister Chi Onwurah warns government will struggle to achieve its goals without maintaining investment

Liverpool vice-chancellor argues that conducting more research outside London and south-east of England would improve healthcare and educational outcomes

Academic freedom constraints of previous Law and Justice administration come to an end, but funding concerns remain, researchers say

First budget under new right-wing government insufficient, sector leaders say

Universities warn folding Horizon Europe costs into existing budget would force ‘deep cuts’ on rest of science sector

Universities UK urges ‘ambitious’ increase in research spending, not real-terms cut, ahead of budget

Group of experts advises European Union to embark on huge new investment in research

‘SWAT team’ of finance experts and science writers helps university secure more federal research funds than any other US institution, says its vice-provost for research

Funders and prestigious universities ‘cannot compete’ as budgets stand still or go backwards

Christian Ehler insists that additional funding must not come with political strings attached

Survey of pro-growth economists by innovation thinktank UK Day One finds weak support among economists for extra higher education spending

Submission from new administration on future European research funding programme urges continuing focus on excellence

Science minister says he took job in DSIT because he ‘didn’t feel like shutting up’

Planning cuts of more than €1 billion (£840 million), ministers opt to save academic positions and instead target ‘starter’ grants

‘Without ending funding for projects, it would be impossible to fund new and innovative projects,’ says Stian Westlake

Future is ‘uncertain’ for UK in a Changing Europe, says director

Former White House science chief Tom Kalil argues higher budget would help ‘non-consensus’ research projects achieve ‘critical mass’

September and January deadlines disadvantage some and consume time off, academics say

Improved fortunes of UK-based researchers follows return to Horizon Europe, but grantee numbers are still much below pre-Brexit levels

New role backed by cement company at Trinity College Dublin has prompted protests, but can institutions – and the planet – realistically afford to spurn such funding?

New Labour government believes decade-long budgets will lead to more industry investment in science and fewer precariously employed researchers, but not everyone is so convinced

Difficult conversations about how the REF’s post-2029 open access books mandate will be financed cannot be avoided, say experts

Australian stakeholders applaud indigenous focus but stress need for planning and resourcing

Analysis shows public investment in research generates private spending at more than double the level previously thought

But formation of Research Ireland must be accompanied by funding increase, researchers say, as questions over leadership remain

University had already built £31 million home for exascale supercomputer now targeted by spending cuts

Go8 report outlines 10-year ‘roadmap’ to boost investment, arguing ‘substantial’ change needed

Without increased support, many RAs may choose to leave for other opportunities that provide more job security and benefits, says Bre-Anne Fifield

Ministry support will be vital, but a lack of political imperative could limit motivation, say Hyejin Kim, Erik Mobrand and Sylvia Schwaag Serger 

Annual Transparent Approach to Costing data shows returns on international students fell again last year