UK's long-term R&D investment policy welcomed
The decision by the UK government to set new 10-year budgets for public R&D funding has received a positive response from academia and the pharma industry as a much-needed shift away from short-termism.
The plan means that certain R&D projects in areas like antimicrobial resistance will be able to secure longer-term commitments from government agencies, which will provide "certainty to world-class research organisations that their work will continue over the long-term, helping to attract greater private investment."
Specific funding allocations will be revealed in the coming weeks, according to a statement from Downing Street, which said it would also make it easier to provide funding for costly infrastructure such as large-scale research facilities and equipment.
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) was quick to endorse the move, saying it would help support "vital national science infrastructure, attracting and retaining talent in the UK and sustaining partnerships with industry and other sectors."
Dr Janet Valentine, ABPI's head of innovation and research policy, called it "an opportune time for the government to set out its stall for the UK's commitment to backing scientific research, resources, skills and partnerships with industry," adding: "As an industry, we will continue work with the government to help the UK improve its international competitiveness as a place to do science and deploy innovative medicines and vaccines."
Guidance on the new policy from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) notes that qualifying for 10-year funding will depend on projects being able to demonstrate clear scientific and commercial benefits, tying it in with the government's pledge to kickstart the UK's economic growth.
It also recommends that public bodies should set a maximum limit for the proportion of R&D budget that, at any one time, should be allocated to ten-year funding. This will retain the agility to respond to new and emerging priorities in the short and medium term.
"Research and innovation, from computing and AI to health breakthroughs need stability of funding," said Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance. "We are delivering on our manifesto commitment to support and encourage public bodies to deliver long-term ten-year funding streams where appropriate, while retaining the flexibility of shorter-term cycles to deal with emerging priorities."
Commenting on the plan, the president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof Andrew Morris, said it "represents a positive and strategic shift that the Academy has long advocated for."
"We are particularly pleased to see the criteria focus on attracting global talent, supporting partnerships and fostering international collaboration, which are essential to maintaining the UK's position as a world leader in medical science," he added.
"Building sustainable research careers, collaborative networks, and creative public-private partnerships takes time, and this long-term approach acknowledges this reality."
