As EU #research funding shifts toward #competitiveness, support for global challenges is tightening. A report from Centre for European Policy Studies argues that the next Horizon Europe should formally integrate philanthropy to help fill the gap:
And on how often Astronomer Royals go into battle - it does happen, most recently in the late 90's during the "Observatory Wars". They decided to close one of the Royal Observatory's (Greenwich vs Edinburgh). Edinburgh won the case and became the very wonderful UK Astronomy Technology Centre.
Not sure how often Astronomers Royal go into battle publicly, but I really hope at least one of them will talk about a funding black hole.
Look out in particular for the *Astronomer Royal for Scotland* @astroroyalscot.bsky.social in that first panel, and potential differences of opinion with the *Astronomer Royal* in the second panel (who also happens to be Exec Chair of STFC, Michele Dougherty)
Both will be 'star witnesses', I'm sure
🍿 Wednesday 4 March - Commons SIT Cttee is talking to physicists and astronomers about the cuts/cost reductions at STFC, before grilling the STFC Executive Chair in a second panel.
Some good UK science policy select committee sessions to look forward to next week, in both the Commons and the Lords:
🍿 Tuesday 3 Mar - Lords S&T Committee quizzing Liz Kendall, Patrick Vallance and Emran Mian (DSIT Perm Sec). I imagine they'll be trying to get a handle on those buckets (ahem).
Kanishka Narayan said that STFC is “currently consulting with the scientific community about spending priorities within their settlement ahead of determining final allocation”
And DSIT is in “active dialogue with UKRI to ensure that any implications from funding decisions are fully understood”
...
Ian Chapman makes the case that he would not be doing his job properly if he didn't deal with the cost overruns at STFC, which are causing so much grief to physicists
Physics groups are calling on ministers to intervene (presumably with more cash)
And there is now a response from a minister
...
The emphasis today needs to be on getting maximum value out of the current programme, and using that as part of making the case for reassociation.
It was 'priced in' to the original decision that it would take time to build up Pillar II rates
The official govt FP10 position is actually quite clear
There's a risk UK participation rates in Horizon Pillar II becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy - the more we create fresh uncertainty about future participation because of low success, the more we disrupt potential collaboration.
So maybe... let's not do that?
Interesting! Thanks
Thanks. Might include all kinds of things. Hopefully the follow up note for the sel cttee will shed some light.
The only (UKRI level) figures I’ve found are £0.8bn in 24/25 responsive mode, cf for £815m applicant led 26/27. But the former is spend and the latter is budget, so also not right 🤷
What’s your source for the £200m figure for MRC applicant-led for previous years? I’ve only found UKRI-level numbers for responsive mode as a comparator
Chi Onwurah notes a strong alignment between the UK's three 'buckets' for R&D investments and the three 'pillars' of Horizon Europe.
On the balance between the buckets - Ian Chapman highlights the contirbution that other govt depts make to Bucket 2 if you were to look beyond UKRI
The first acknowledgement I've seen of the change - thanks for sharing!
Cabinet Committees:
Before and after Nov 2025, with closest equivalent now being Digital and Technology.
Previous Committee was set up to 'consider matters related to science and tech, to drive the UK's economic growth and national security', with wide x-govt attendance.
Ian Chapman: no move away from applicant-led funding at UKRI. BBSRC funding pause is a temporary - 'a matter of a few weeks' before they move to an always-open system (as at e.g. EPSRC, AHRC).
MRC pause will extend to early summer, and then will open again.
.@georgefreemanmp.bsky.social asks Ian Chapman whether the National Science and Technology Council - a UK Cabinet Cttee - is still meeting & if he presents to it?
Ian can't answer - but that's because the NSTC was quietly scrapped in November, and no-one has noticed yet www.gov.uk/government/p...
Some initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
CaSE: “UKRI need to explain how the cuts detailed in this letter are consistent with the commitment to protect curiosity-led research […]
“The information we have had so far is a failure in communication and transparency”
www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/press/detail...
CaSE: “UKRI need to explain how the cuts detailed in this letter are consistent with the commitment to protect curiosity-led research […]
“The information we have had so far is a failure in communication and transparency”
www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/press/detail...
Quite timely that Sir Ian Chapman, UKRI CEO, will be in front of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee on Tuesday next week… 👀
Big development with some major consequences for British physics research
STFC is asking asking leaders of projects it funds "to identify how their project would respond to flat cash and reductions of 20 per cent, 40 per cent and 60 per cent"
Major UK science facilities are also facing cuts
Wikipedia sections of an article. 1: early life and career as a pirate. 2: archbishop of York.
If you're looking for a sign to switch careers: this is the sign.
Who could fail to enjoy Wikipedia’s ‘List of lists of lists’, which of course includes the article itself on the list, goven that it is a list of lists en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
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Hard to pick out the worst part, but the quote “I’m afraid there’s many bad people around, but they have made scientific advances” is extraordinarily depressing to read.
