Russell Group calls for clarity on funding for UK science and research

17 March 2021

The Russell Group, which represents 24 leading research-intensive universities across the UK, has written to the Prime Minister calling for clarity on the future of funding for UK science and research.

The letter, from Russell Group Chair Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell and Chief Executive Dr Tim Bradshaw, can be found below.

The Russell Group has welcomed the Government’s commitment to science to date, but is now seeking reassurance that this ambition is unchanged, that additional investment in Horizon Europe is being prioritised, and that core funding for UK research and innovation is supported and secure.

Commenting, Dr Tim Bradshaw said:

"The research community welcomed the news when Government successfully secured association to Horizon Europe as part of its trade deal with the EU. However, if that achievement is not followed through with the necessary additional investment it could leave a shortfall of up to £1billion this year in existing R&D budgets.

"That reduction would not only deal a serious blow to UK science and research, but it will hobble the Government’s ambitions for a swift, innovation fuelled recovery.

"This comes on top of £120m of cuts already announced for ODA-funded research in the last few days, undermining years of work to establish science diplomacy links across the globe with research that changes lives on the ground.

"Taken together, these cuts put our global reputation as a science superpower at risk. We are calling on the government to provide urgent clarity on its plans to fund Horizon Europe and on its commitment to core research and innovation investment in the UK."