Russell Group responds to Levelling Up White Paper

02 February 2022

Responding to the UK Government's White Paper on Levelling Up, which was published on Wednesday (2 Feb), Dr Tim Bradshaw, CEO of the Russell Group, said:

“Ideas and talent underpin innovation, so harnessing R&D taking place across the UK can bring huge benefits to local communities. The Government’s welcome investment in new centres of innovation with world-leading universities at their heart will bring new high-skilled jobs and private investment. We hope this support for vital innovation clusters will ultimately extend well beyond the three pilot areas, drawing on the strengths of the UK’s research-intensive universities and their links with business and regional leaders.

“It is important that investment in regional innovation is backed up with support for the UK’s world-class research base. The Government’s ambitious plans to increase public funding for R&D mean it is now possible to grow investment in all parts of the country.

“Ultimately, research excellence and levelling up go hand in hand. The UK’s leading innovation economies deliver jobs and growth far beyond their regions, while advances driven by research-intensive universities in everything from AI to biomedical science and clean energy technology result in benefits for the whole nation.”

See examples of how Russell Group universities are levelling up the economy in every UK region and nation.

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