Russell Group submission to the Autumn Statement 2023

17 October 2023

As leading research-intensive universities, we are proud to deliver world-class research that supports businesses, public services and economies across all four nations. This research-led approach, coupled with the provision of outstanding teaching and skills development, makes our universities perfectly placed to support the Government in its ambitions for the UK to be a science superpower and for long-term sustainable growth.

Following the extremely welcome decision to associate to Horizon Europe, the Government must not miss the opportunity take our R&D potential to the next level. If implemented swiftly, several simple actions could not only help avoid a potential R&D underspend for this financial year but also secure millions of pounds for the UK economy.

We would suggest these actions could include:

• Investment to ensure high rates of participation in Horizon Europe
• Investment to leverage university capability to drive AUKUS pillar 2
• Investment to strengthen UK-Germany research

Unfortunately, the strength of UK research also makes us a target of activity from hostile state actors. The Autumn Statement is an opportunity to build on the steps universities have taken in recent years to assess and manage security risks by enhancing the capacity of universities to protect this important national asset. The creation of a UK Research Security Fund would disrupt hostile attempts to interfere in the UK’s world-leading university research, realising a central aim of the Integrated Review Refresh and Defending Democracy Taskforce.

You can read the Russell Group submission to the Autumn Statement 2023 in full below.