Public support for R&D is ‘broad but shallow’, report warns. Highlight personal connections and local links to protect investment from political shifts, Case advises. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-i...

It’s official! Switzerland joins #HorizonEU & #Euratom Research & Training, the EU’s programmes for R&I! Swiss researchers & organisations can now fully collaborate on research, innovation & digital transformation, driving solutions across Europe. 🔗 link.europa.eu/G4Jfjw

Players from Patcham Silver Band supporting the Salvation Army today in Brighton for Remembrance Sunday. Bram (in the SA hat) has played the Last Post here since 1967

“Science has recently been the professed interest of just a handful of MPs… But this year, something has changed.” Our Director Tracey Brown explores Parliament's growing interest among MPs in science and research, and how #EvidenceWeek helps bridge the gap between policymakers and researchers.

The Riker minifig comes with a lil’ trombone 😍 www.lego.com/en-gb/produc...

'Music and modern foreign languages degrees are among courses being suspended at the University of Nottingham, with the institution saying it “cannot rely on additional income” from the coming tuition fee rises.' 1/3

'Nottingham put part of the blame for the continued financial uncertainty on the proposed international student fee levy, pointing out that it will “wipe out any benefits” that will come from the Westminster government’s recent decision to link fees to inflation.' 3/3

With more and more countries pursuing policies aimed at attracting the most highly skilled workers, the UK and US need to realise that perceptions also matter, and — in the UK’s case — that this is just one more area where a bit of economic growth would help. My column: www.ft.com/content/d70c...

NEW from me: Political hostility, high visa fees and (in the case of the UK) stagnant incomes are making the UK and US less attractive destinations for top international talent. That steep decline in the appeal of moving to the US after 2016 is 👀

"Dsit’s assessment is that every £1 of civil public R&D investment generates £8 in economic benefits. This rather raises the question of why we don’t just bosh it another £3bn and wipe out the budget deficit, but we’re probably oversimplifying things" www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-he-govern...

‘The CBI and Universities UK… said universities already subsidised research by £5.4 billion a year, largely through international student income. A levy would "accelerate contraction" in research and innovation, they warned.’ www.thetimes.com/article/95f2...

But while Brits see research as a core role of universities, awareness is fairly low: less than half of non-graduates say they are “fully aware” of the research that universities do, while a fifth say they are “not at all” aware. In focus groups research was often an afterthought

Asked about the most important roles of universities, their wider national (and international) contributions are the top: training professionals and researching new medicines are main reasons, followed by the benefits they provide to students.

Whilst there has been much to criticise about policymaking in recent years, it should be noted that governments of both stripes have continued to invest in R&D at a time of tight budgets when it would have been easy to cut back on it. This has been a quiet area of consensus politics

More info on UKRI allocations published today (more, but not full - Council-by-Council to be published in Dec). Also note that footnote 5 confirms that the 25/26 figure isn’t comparable with 26/27 - sigh www.gov.uk/government/p...

🚨Breaking Dsit funding news🚨 UKRI allocated £39bn budget over next four years. National funder will receive around £9.2 billion next year, as Dsit plans “more agile” R&D funding. More details: www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

'When the White Paper suggests that the government can “incentivise specialisation and collaboration through research funding reform”, it is worth asking what – if any – links there currently are between research funding and teaching provision.' Well worth a read.

Another report on how our high visa costs deter top R&D talent on.ft.com/4oyDMnB

NEW on Wonkhe: Ben Tatler and Neil Jacobs believe REF should be central to solving the collective action problems around openness, transparency, and accountability in research. buff.ly/F0zitRY

Genetics database hit by Trump cuts bailed out by Wellcome. Stopgap funds support UK-based researchers, but future of FlyBase in jeopardy after terminated NIH grant. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

A helpful reminder from @karenstroobants.bsky.social and Frances Downey of why improving research culture is needed and the work that PCE plans are building on www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

'The research found that “from antibiotics to the internet, global researchers helped Britain innovate – let’s do it again” was the most effective statement among respondents.' Important work. A significant part of addressing the UK university polycrisis entails getting the narrative right. 2/2

'The survey of 2,079 UK adults, carried out by the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), finds that overall voters were often supportive of academics being allowed in to the UK, but noted that the messaging surrounding policies could significantly impact how voters perceived them.' 1/2

“In the recent DSIT survey of the UK Research & Development workforce, only 52 per cent of higher education respondents said the culture of their organisation enabled them to perform their best work, compared to 85 per cent in the private sector.”

Revisiting this story I wrote yesterday for @resprofnews.bsky.social - a key announcement on visas for researchers and scientists buried in a press release about funding for primary schools. Mind-boggling...

“A rollback of PCE risks stalling momentum on essential efforts toward research culture change” blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...

“The levy is a terrible policy that will damage universities at a time when they are already facing financial challenges” Russell Group pulling no punches here www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/respons...

The #REF has been postponed for three months ‘to take stock and ensure alignment with the UK government’s priorities and vision for higher education’. But how radical should the changes be? Should there be any at all? Is it time to start again? www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/where-...

“Sustainable research excellence depends on the people who make it happen. Environments that support career development, recognise diverse contributions, and foster inclusion don’t just feel better to work in – they produce better research”

Incredibly timely work from CaSE - a set of case studies that illustrate the problems researchers face with the immigration system

Ed Davey pledges to bring US cancer researchers to the UK Research groups welcome Lib Dem proposals to lower visa costs for scientists hit by Trump cuts www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

I don’t think this should be a surprise, because (a) the # of prizewinners is small, and (b) I’d guess that almost all of them would be eligible for other Global Talent routes too. The focus on prizewinners is a politically easy thing to sell but misses the ‘team science’ & high potential ECRs

We're recruiting! We're seeking an early-career policy or research professional to support policy response & knowledge transfer activities & to enhance our capacity to respond quickly & effectively to opportunities for policy engagement & impact. 👉🏽 www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/about-us/vac...

New Frontier Economics report, commissioned by AMRC and @wellcometrust.bsky.social, showcases the extensive benefits of non-commercial clinical research. It reveals the ‘triple dividend’ this research brings to the UK: unlocking growth, supporting the NHS and improving lives. bit.ly/3KrW7nf

“Job security and support are fundamental to excellence, not luxuries or distractions” - a reminder of what’s a stake in discussions of how to drive improvements in research culture www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Calls to protect QR grow ahead of crunch budget decisions. Spending limits and high inflation weaken prospect of real-terms rise for university research funds. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

I am delighted to announce that we are recruiting to three new roles in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s senior team. Take a look if you want to help us grow our impact & develop our brilliant research (details of the Academy Director role will be up next week) 👇 micro.green-park.co.uk/ifg/

Shower thoughts: is the Treasury ministers WhatsApp group called ‘Chat GDP’. And if not, what can I do to bring this about.

'Universities will be asked to explain how they spend millions of pounds received in quality-related (QR) funding from the Research Excellence Framework as part of a pilot study designed to provide greater transparency on institutional spending.' 1/2

“I strongly encourage all universities to participate in this important pilot as it will provide invaluable insights across the whole range of institutions we fund into how our transparency programme should be implemented for future years.” (Jessica Corner, Research England)

'Notwithstanding central government’s aversion to even nudging towards what it might want students to study in anything approaching a plan, having fewer universities doing less things each only works if you maintain – or even increase – the proportion of students prepared to study away from home.'

The mooted specialisation: 'you would need deep policy focus, deeper pockets, and the metaphorical political hide of a rhinoceros to pull something like that off, not least because it goes strongly against the grain of the sector and would probably cause some institutions to fall over'. 2/3

UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said: "I want the UK to be the partner of choice, to everyone involved in the programme"

‘The global partner of choice’ - will it catch on? From DSIT’s twitter feed, maybe that has now started… 🤞🏻

New Post: The UK as a Global Partner of Choice for R&D – will it catch on? www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/09/02/t...

Starmer has appointed Darren Jones as Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, tasked with delivering Starmer’s vision. James Murray will take over Jobes’ old job as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

This shit is Branäs B-R-A-N-Ä-S

Proposed REF changes ‘a step backwards’, says Wellcome boss. John-Arne Røttingen lobbies science minister against reduced people, culture and environment element. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Research England should not backtrack on their proposals on people, culture and environment as part of the next Research Excellence Framework, says @jarottingen.bsky.social www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...