Did 2016 end well for science?

The Autumn Statement has passed, with science funding promised by the Chancellor. But what's next? Naomi Weir, takes a closer look

In our August column we considered where science fitted in the priorities of Theresa May and her new Government. A few months on and we’re perhaps a bit clearer. Lots of questions and concerns remain, but what we do know is that this Government has backed warm words for science with real funding. Not protection in flat cash. Not protection in real terms. But an additional £.4.7bn over 4 years, reaching £2bn a year by 2020.

On November 23rd in his Autumn Statement the Chancellor confirmed this new funding would be direct investment meaning that the quantity of funding announced is a big change from what we’ve been used to in recent years. Recent decades even. The funding sits within a new National Productivity Investment Fund which has three priorities described as “critical for productivity”: housing; research and development (R&D); and economic infrastructure. It is not new for the government to recognise the link between investment in R&D and productivity, what is new is to follow through with significant new funding.

The Chancellor also said that the funding would be managed by the Research Councils and Innovate UK (and by UK Research and Innovation once it is set up). This is just as significant a change. In recent years funding announcements for science have often been for specific projects, buildings or scientific infrastructure. What we heard from the Chancellor was that specific projects will be “decided in due course”, using value for money assessments and these assessments will be made by UKRI. This suggests that we are moving away from piecemeal funding to funding that can be allocated in line with a longer term strategic priorities decided by those entrusted with leading the UK’s research and innovation bodies. It will now be up to us in the science community to use the funding well and to demonstrate the many and varied benefits derived from it.

Those are two big wins – for science and for the UK. But there are still challenges ahead. Who will be doing the science? The Prime Minister spoke of wanting the UK to be a go-to-place for scientists, innovators and tech investors but that seems at odds with the wider policy direction and rhetoric both from No 10 and the Home Office on immigration. We also must ensure that our education and skills system is working well. We have had substantial investment announced, but there are many questions about funding, regulation and access to EU programmes and networks as a result of Brexit. But the support the government have shown for science today gives me hope that we might find a good resolution to the other challenges too.

Author: Naomi Weir is Assistant Director at Campaign for Science and Engineering.

www.sciencecampaign.org.uk

CaSE is a membership organisation working to improve government policies and funding to support science and engineering in the UK