Science research funding in universities - Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for Education response

This is the government's response, published 18 October 2019.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government's response commits to increasing R&D funding to "at least 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2027", says it will consider the Augar Review recommendations "carefully", and says it would like the "option to associate" with Horizon Europe.

• On QR funding, the government says it will set out plans in the Autumn to "significantly boost public R&D funding", and has asked UKRI for formal advice on the balance of funding between Research Councils and Research England ahead of the Spending Review.
• On the Augar Review, the government says it will consider the recommendations "carefully" and "will consider the potential impacts on overall university funding as it considers the recommendations". On university autonomy, it "agrees that the institutional autonomy of higher education providers is important".
• On Horizon Europe, the UK "would like the option to associate", "should the conditions be right" and the programme represent value for money. It says elements "need to be finalised before we can make an informed decision".
• On researcher mobility, it cites a new uncapped fast-track visa scheme for elite scientists and says the Migration Advisory Committee has been asked to report on salary thresholds by January 2020.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error