Universities UK today published a report aimed at informing government spending and policy decisions which will have a significant impact on UK universities’ ability to continue to deliver world-leading research. At this critical time with unprecedented economic challenges and the establishment of the first coalition government for decades, the future of our science and research base is vital for the country’s prosperity. While this report highlights areas of success for UK research, it also addresses some of the challenges it will face.

A number of recommendations are suggested for the research community to consider. These include:

• Universities to set out more clearly what they can do in relation to innovation in industry and asserting the need to work with willing industrial partners.
• Universities to take ownership of the ‘impact’ agenda – i.e the contribution that excellent research makes to economy, society, public policy or services, culture, the environment or health and quality of life.
• The department for Business, Innovation and Skills to enhance schemes to allow researchers and industrialists to exchange places for a period of three or six months.
• Research Councils, other funding bodies and universities to facilitate a much larger proportion of academic staff in gaining experience overseas.
• Universities to work with schools to stress the need for competence in foreign languages as a prerequisite for a research career in any field.
• A need to focus on sustaining world class excellent research.

Professor Steve Smith, President of Universities UK said: “As David Willetts has rightly acknowledged, the future of the UK’s economic growth is inextricably linked to the success of our research and science base. While we face the toughest spending decisions in recent years, it is clear that continued political commitment and investment in this area is vital.

“Indeed, the current strength of the UK’s research is unquestionable – it remains the most productive and efficient of all the G8 countries, producing nearly 14% of the world’s most highly cited research papers, placing us second only to the US. However, we cannot take this position for granted. We look forward to working with government and the funding councils to consider the recommendations and issues presented in this report, and develop a clear and comprehensive strategy for the future.”

Jonathan Adams, Director of Research Evaluation, at Evidence, a Thomson Reuters business which authored the report said: “This report will ensure the continued success of the UK research base and the recovery of our knowledge-based economy. The sector needs to continue developing skilled and competent researchers who will bring value across the economy and to commit to the changes necessitated by the current economic climate.”

Notes

1. The report, The future of research draws on a substantive data and literature review prepared for Universities UK by Evidence, a Thomson Reuters business, and on a Universities UK round table discussion event held in April 2010 at the Royal Academy of Engineering.
2. Evidence, a Thomson Reuters business, specialises in research performance analysis and interpretation.  The company was founded in 2000 and acquired by Thomson Reuters in January 2009.
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3. This report has been supported by the UK Higher Education Europe Unit and International Unit.