Ahead of the autumn statement on 17 November, Universities UK is urging the Chancellor to recommit to uplifting investment on research and development. This long-term investment will ensure that universities can continue to support growth and prosperity across the whole of the UK.
Universities UK has joined with more than 100 business organisations, education leaders and individual researchers in writing to the Chancellor urging the government not to cut research and development (R&D) funding. This funding is the engine of growth, enabling universities to attract investment and talent, make world-leading discoveries, generate knowledge, and create and nurture new, innovative businesses and jobs across the UK.
This call follows their recently published report ‘Our Universities: Generating Growth and Opportunity’highlighting the ways in which universities can play a bigger role in generating economic growth by supporting jobs and prosperity, boosting skills and opportunities, and building pride in place and local communities.
University research excellence is also well-distributed geographically across the whole of the UK, with recent assessments showing over 80% of submitted research activity to be world-leading or internationally excellent.
