Response to the BIS consultation on long-term research capital investment

04 July 2014

The UK’s position as a world-leader in research, and the benefits that flow from this for the economy and society, will only be maintained if our research-intensive universities have the facilities and equipment needed to compete internationally.

The commitment to increase funding for capital investment and maintain this at around £1.1 billion per year in real terms to 2020-21 is very welcome.

We recommend that the majority of funding be allocated at the institution and research project level as opposed to large-scale projects, and that funding allocated directly to institutions is at least equal to that allocated to research projects through the Research Councils.

Capital investment for science and research should be allocated to research-intensive universities and their institutes where there is a critical mass of research excellence rather than to research and technology organisations and independent research organisations.   

A clear commitment from the Government is needed to support the ongoing resource costs associated with operating, maintaining and upgrading capital facilities.

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