07/01/2005

Scientific research to receive additional funding

The Government has announced an increase in funding to help ensure that the UK's scientific research is put on a "secure and sustainable footing".

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Sainsbury announced that the UK Research Councils will pay a higher proportion of the full economic costs (FEC) of university research grants applied for from September 2005.

An extra £120 million per year, to support the move towards FEC, will be distributed to the Research Councils from July 2005, rising to £200 million per year from 2007-08.

The Research Councils will pay 80% of the FEC of suitable projects - more than the 60% to 70% previously estimated. The Government's aim is that this will reach 100% by the start of the next decade in line with the proposals contained in the 'Science and Innovation Investment Framework: 2004-2014'.

Lord Sainsbury also announced that Research Councils would pay 100% of the costs of any equipment over £50,000 per grant, with Higher Education Institutions contributing 20% of the costs of the first £50,000.

Lord Sainsbury said: "The Government is committed to improving and maintaining research excellence in UK universities.

"The move towards Research Councils paying the full economic costs of projects is a huge step forward in the drive towards proper and sustained funding of the UK research base, and comes coupled with an increase in the block grant from Funding Councils. This represents a major boost for university research."

Higher Education Minister Kim Howells said: "This increase in the level of contribution from the Research Councils is another major step to ensure that our universities have a secure base from which to plan and develop high quality research in a sustainable way".

Mr Howells said that the Government remained fully committed to the dual support system: "The movement towards Research Councils paying Full Economic Costs is an integral element of this, which will allow institutions greater flexibility in the use of their Quality Related funding to address the needs of their research strategies properly."

The heads of universities and researchers have warmly welcomed todays announcement.

(SP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 October 2015
£200m Polar Research Ship To Be Built
The preferred bidder to construct a £200m state-of-the-art polar research ship has been named. Cammell Laird in Birkenhead has been selected as the preferred bidder for the project which will help the UK remain at the forefront of climate and ocean research.
14 May 2015
£18m Funding For Health Research In Wales
A number of significant research projects into cancer, public health, primary and emergency care, as well as mental health are to benefit from an £18m by the Welsh Government, it has been announced.
26 June 2013
Unison Wins Equal Pay Case
Nearly 2,000 women members of Unison are celebrating a historic equal pay victory today. They have finally demolished the long-running defence by Scottish councils of paying men discriminatory bonuses that are denied to women.
27 August 2014
£1bn Shortage In Funding For School Places - LGA
Councils are warning there is a £1bn shortage in school places funding. It has been said that councils have abandoned building projects, cut back on school maintenance and borrowed money in order to pay for a school place for every child, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
27 September 2013
Loyalist Campaigner Attends Court Dressed As Abu Hamza
A loyalist campaign has appeared at Laganside court in Belfast dressed as Abu Hamza. Willie Frazer is facing charges in connection with demonstrations in January over Belfast City Councils decision to only fly the union flag on designated days, bring it into line with the rest of the UK.