Government expenditure on R&D has risen more rapidly in real terms from 2022 than pre-pandemic
Getting ONS R&D stats 2 years after the fact always feels a bit...old news
BUT, I do think there's some interesting stuff in there
Namely, that while there were two years of real-terms growth in UK public R&D spending of ~9%, this pretty much took place outside funding for the university sector
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Speaking to Research Professional News, Marcus Munafò, deputy vice-chancellor and provost at the University of Bath, said: “I think there’s a risk we could end up in a situation where some technologies or certain disciplines fall off a cliff—go past a certain threshold because they don’t have a critical mass of funding to support them. “That bit seems to be missing from the debate; we need to think about the research ecosystem as national capability and infrastructure that we need to keep healthy to allow us to react to unknown scenarios in the future.”
There's definitely a reshaping of UK research going on
Some of it is intentional - govt encouraging unis to specialise, UKRI directing funds for applied R&I to industrial strategy areas
Some of it isn't - unis taking individual decisions to save costs that add up to impact on national capacity
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Researchers say Hungary ‘should move fast on Horizon to end nationalist bubble’.
They want to see Orbán-era university policies axed and action taken to regain access to Horizon Europe.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
David Comerford: incentivising rigorous peer review would be a first line of defence against the rising tide of “resmearch”, where special interest groups or firms use AI to trawl large, public datasets and produce findings that seem to support their product or stance'. 1/3
Researchers not happy about a 12-month wait to resubmit unsuccessful bids for MRC research grants
Applicants had no idea in Sept 25 that the funding rate would be lower (possibly much lower) than in previous years
BUT...important difference between the call text, and the MRC line to RPN though
...
Resubmission embargo branded ‘unfair’ as MRC calls reopen.
Researchers caught out by reduced funding rates barred from re-applying for 12 months “unless invited”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Can we fight AI-driven 'bullshit science' with better peer review?
Great to speak to @stir.ac.uk's David Comerford about his idea for a peer review points system designed to tackle the rising tide of 'resmearch'.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Do falling success rates mean ‘the entire system needs a rethink’?
My piece exploring whether anything other than more funding can ease applicants' frustrations. Thanks to @gemmaderrick.bsky.social, Karen Stroobants and others for their insights.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
Can UKRI’s Sheffield showcase boost people’s support for R&D?
Great to hear views from @sciencecampaign.bsky.social, Vivienne Parry and @andywestwood.bsky.social on whether schemes like these make a difference.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Do we need a national strategy to end the ‘gridlock’ in achieving open access for books?
A @britishacademy.bsky.social report calls for a joined-up approach, as "the systems are not currently in place to make it work".
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...
Fantastic long read from @francesjones.bsky.social on why the physics cuts ‘could hurt government’s dash for growth’.
Shrinking the UK's pool of experts, particularly early career researchers, will 'hurt UK industry over the long term'.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Double-take detail in this interview with Edith Heard, head of the Crick
Her French husband decided against getting a spouse visa because of the UK's "intrusive" immigration rules
If that's happening with one of the UK's most senior scientists, how many others are being put off completely?
Great to speak to Cefin Campbell about @plaidcymru.bsky.social's plans for research and universities if the party wins the May election in Wales.
Universities are wasting up to £4.7bn each year through outdated digital systems.
This is stifling innovation and research, @jisc.bsky.social has warned.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Universities urged not to ‘drag feet’ on engaging with populists
Institutions must engage now or risk US-style crackdown on academic freedom and research, @hepi-news.bsky.social paper says
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
Research networks are ‘diminishing by the day’ thanks to the surging number of redundancies in UK universities. Via @chrisjparr.bsky.social
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Researchers need the UK to secure autonomy in AI.
In hostile world, copyright changes and investment can bring sovereignty and innovation, says Ben White.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...
UK university unions demand pay rise 3% above inflation
Employers describe claim as “extremely challenging” in current financial climate
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
UK visa rules have ‘negative impact’, say prize-winning scientists.
Foreign-born winners of Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists describe barriers to working in UK.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...
There is a “national catastrophe” unfolding as universities close modern languages courses.
University of Birmingham VC Adam Tickell told the @britishacademy.bsky.social conference that important “cultural assets” are being lost “by stealth”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
Birmingham v-c Adam Tickell made some really interesting comments at @britishacademy.bsky.social conference.
Called university languages closures a "national catastrophe", said uni mergers may be needed to address it.
Not many v-cs are willing to take public stand on national sector issues.
How can the EU hit its 3% R&D spending target?
Given the challenges facing Europe, that target has been described as the "bare minimum".
Great to speak to Mattias Björnmalm @bearore.bsky.social and others about this issue.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...
UKRI details how ‘buckets’ model relates to previous spending
Comparison given after pressure from MPs, as experts question funder classifying QR as curiosity-driven research
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Fears over STFC cost-savings plan aired since September 2025.
Oversight body repeatedly raised concerns over “lack of transparency” with research community.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Job losses at research-intensive universities doubled in two years.
The scale of redundancies revealed by RPN has been branded a “disaster” for UK research capacity. Via @chrisjparr.bsky.social.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
For the next REF, the rules are changing. Researchers can't 'port' their outputs to a new employer - with an exception for long-form outputs.
While some are happy with the rules, others warn of a 'backlash' amid widespread redundancies.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
I sent FOI requests to all 34 members of the Russell Group and Research Plus to collate this data, though only 24 replied on time. Still a decent sample. Not happy reading.
Job losses at UK research-intensive universities double in two years.
Exclusive: Scale of redundancies branded a “disaster”.
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...
