Future of UK science hangs in the balance in crucial year
By 
Angeli Mehta2020-01-21T09:30:00
Promises to double funding and create new blue skies research agency sit uneasily with likelihood of crashing out of EU science programmes
As the dust settles on December’s election result, the government has been laying out some of its priorities for science over the course of the next parliament. It has already pledged to double science funding to £18 billion over the next five years and says it will cut bureaucracy for scientists applying for grants. The uplift – consistent with previous commitments to boost R&D to 2.4% of GDP by 2027 – together with a new emphasis on science has been welcomed across the community. But scientists want a well thought out, long term strategy to boost ‘blue skies’ or responsive research.