Minister unveils new funding for science and engineering

Funding will put the UK at the forefront of international research and inspire the next generation of scientists

Minister for universities and science, Jo Johnson, has set out his vision to ensure the UK remains a global leader in science and engineering.

Delivering the annual Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) lecture, he announced new funding to put the UK at the forefront of international research and inspire the next generation of world-class scientists. These include:

• doubling the Newton Fund for international research from its current £75 million per year to £150 million per year by 2021, meaning a total investment of £735 million from 2014 to 2021. The fund will enable UK scientists to partner with academics and researchers in developing countries and emerging markets to support their economic development and the UK’s research base.
• a new government partnership with the Wellcome Trust to deliver the £30 million Inspiring Science Capital Fund – with £20 million from government and £10 million from the Wellcome Trust. Science centres and attractions across the UK will be able to bid into the fund to refresh and refurbish exhibitions and infrastructure to inspire young people to engage with science and consider a Stem career.

Johnson said: “We want Britain to be the best place in Europe to innovate, and by protecting the science budget we’re giving the clearest signal that science and innovation sit at the very heart of this government’s economic plan.

“Extending the Newton Fund provides a unique opportunity for UK academics to work with partners around the world to address some of the biggest challenges of our time.

Johnson highlighted the strength of the UK’s research partnerships with Europe and the rest of the world. He said that around half of all UK research publications now involve international collaborations, and European countries provide some of the UK’s closest research ties.

The minister also set out the importance of inspiring the next generation of scientists. He announced a new £30 million Inspiring Science Capital Fund – £20 million from government and £10 million from the Wellcome Trust – which will support the UK’s science centres and attractions, offering schools and families hands-on experiences of science and engineering.

The Inspiring Science Capital Fund will enable science centres and other attractions to grow their Stem outreach activities through the creation of new exhibitions, as well as science laboratory and education spaces to better accommodate schools and visiting groups. Applicants will need to demonstrate how the funding would help them to engage underserved and underrepresented audiences.

Johnson indicated that allocations for the Research Councils will be made next month and invited the whole research community to engage with Research Council and Innovate UK as they develop their delivery plans.