RCUK welcome new £100 million investment in research
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is delighted to welcome the new £100 million investment in research facilities announced by the Chancellor George Osborne during his budget today (23 March). Despite the challenges facing the research community, especially in light of reductions to capital budgets, this new investment is a boost to UK research. It reinforces the message that research is vital to the economic growth, prosperity and social wellbeing of the UK.
RCUK is committed to supporting excellent research across a wide range of disciplines and providing access to a full range of world-class research facilities. This investment reflects that position and confirms the value that Government has placed on research.
The following facilities will benefit from the newly announced funding:
- £80 million to develop the national research campuses at Daresbury, Norwich and Cambridge.
- £10 million for three further testing facilities at the ISIS neutron source in Harwell.
- £10 million to start a National Space Technology Programme to be match-funded by industry.
This follows the announcement last week by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts of a £45 million Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) investment in nine new Centres for Innovative Manufacturing. These national centres will focus on emerging science including biological pharmaceuticals, novel composite technologies, and intelligent automation, helping generate the new ideas that will fuel growth.
