UK government announces 10-year budgets for R&D

The UK government has announced plans to set 10-year budgets for R&D funding. It is hoped the new approach will provide long-term certainty for UK scientists and industry to enable them to tackle key challenges such as antimicrobial resistance.

According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the specific funding plan will be determined in the coming weeks and will be awarded by government departments and arms-length bodies according to four criteria: infrastructure and core capabilities; talent attraction and retention; international collaboration; and partnerships and business collaboration. Further details on the initial recipients of 10-year budgets will be set out in the second phase of the spending review which is expected in June.