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The Science and Technology Select Committee of the House of Commons has published its first report of the current session, which calls for increased funding for science and a commitment from the UK to spend 3% of GDP.
Professor Sir John Tooke, President of The Academy of Medical Sciences, said:
“At a time of significant change within the research landscape, we hope the Government will reflect on the Committee’s findings and work with the sector to ensure that any changes further support the delivery of excellence, and make the UK the best place to carry out research and innovation”
Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said:
“The Select Committee’s report hits the nail squarely on the head. Despite the support that the Government has shown to science when faced with difficult choices about Britain’s public finances the fact remains that UK investment in research and innovation has been failing to keep pace with other leading nations.
“The UK must not jeopardise its position as a world leader in science and the associated prospects for long-term prosperity in the name of short-term savings. The Government is committed to making the UK the best place in the world for science and business, world class research and innovation – in order to achieve this, Government needs to increase investment in R&D over the next five years from 0.49% of GDP to at least matching the OECD average of 0.67% of GDP by 2020.”
Philip Greenish, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
“I welcome the Committee’s report. The UK possesses an outstanding research base and has many of the strengths required to excel in innovation, but as a nation we are engaged in a fierce global competition for talent and investment. Many other countries are adopting assertive knowledge-driven growth strategies, and it is essential that the UK is seen to provide a favourable environment for investing in innovation. In this highly competitive and internationalised environment, the role of government in providing an effective and long-term commitment to research and innovation is more important than ever.”
Dr Jenny Rohn, Chair of Science is Vital, said:
“A robust investment in science will reap clear economic as well as societal benefits, whereas neglecting this investment will cause long-term harm to our scientific infrastructure, to our economy and to our ability to compete globally. We therefore welcome the Committee’s strong recommendation that the UK commit to a long-term plan for boosting public investment in science. The alternatives, namely renewing the flat-cash settlement or worse, making destructive cuts of up to 40%, is a risky experiment whose negative effects we will feel for generations to come.”
Prof. Brian Cox, Professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester, said:
“The evidence has been gathered and the cross-party select committee has thought carefully about science in the UK. Their conclusion: The current level of expenditure on R&D, and particularly the constraints it places on the use of our existing world-leading scientific facilities, is “farcical”.
“The committee paints a vivid picture of one of the world’s leading scientific nations shackled by under-investment but, crucially, primed for a step-change in productivity, innovation and wealth generation. The foundations are strong, and the message to government is clear: Invest now to grow our economy, inspire our young people and make Britain the best place in the world to do science. This is within our reach, but it needs political courage, vision and leadership. Anything less than a long term commitment to increased investment in science will be grossly negligent and damage our country, perhaps irreparably”
‘The Science Budget’ by the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee published on Monday 9th November.
Declared interests
On this occasion the SMC has not asked for declarations of interests as we consider everyone to be an interested party.