At a recent breakfast seminar in London, UK chancellor of the exchequer, met with top UK scientists to discuss the future of science.
At a recent breakfast seminar in London, Gordon Brown, UK chancellor of the exchequer, met with top UK scientists to discuss the future of science. He vowed that the government is committed to making Britain ’one of the most competitive locations in the world for science, research and development, and innovation’ and indicated that science is to be boosted by a 10-year spending strategy.
Brown spoke to a range of senior scientists, including Sir Harry Kroto, president of the RSC and Sir David King, chief scientific adviser to the UK government. Brown said: ’While it would be easier to take the short term route - and fail to make the necessary investments for the future - we propose to take the longer-term view, to choose science above many other spending priorities’.
Kroto was positive about the meeting and told Chemistry World that ’Brown listened attentively and made all the right noises’. He was also pleased that the government appeared committed to this not being a ’one-off fix’.
In a letter to various science institutions, including the RSC, the department for education and skills said that the aim of publishing a 10-year investment framework for science and innovation is ’not only to provide certainty for all those working in UK science and engineering, but also a clear lead to all parties who invest, and want to continue to invest in our science capability’.
Following the breakfast meeting, RSC representatives met with Sir David King. Kroto took the opportunity to press the particular importance of the chemical sciences in underpinning technologies for UK innovation and wealth creation.
Emma Davies
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