United Kingdom

United Kingdom is a member state of the EU. 107 FEAST members are from United Kingdom and 77 have collaborative links with United Kingdom.

The UK government invests some £9billion (2003-2004 figures) annually on Research, Technology and development (RTD), comprising £4billion on the ‘science base’, mostly via the Research Councils, universities and associated bodies; £2.6billion on defence; and £2.2billion in other government departments.

Public funds are provided by the Treasury and since 1997 the provision of funds has been based on biennial comprehensive Spending Reviews conducted by the Treasury (… 2002, 2004) which fix departmental spending plans for a three-year period. Annual funding submissions are made within this envelope.

Government policy on research is co-ordinated by the Office of Science and Technology (OST) which is embedded in the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI); the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is the Cabinet Minister with overall responsibility for the Government’s science policy. In addition there is a Minister with specific responsibility for SET matters. The OST is headed by the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) who provides advice to the Government on SET. In addition to its cross-departmental role in advising Government, the OST has a major function in administering funds to the Research Councils, overseen by the Director General of Research Councils (DGRC). Research Council funding is largely allocated in grants to Universities (which are public institutions) and to Research Council Institutes, where most public sector research is carried out. The Universities come under the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) which is responsible for providing the basic infrastructure for carrying out the research; this bimodal scheme is referred to as the dual support system. The Research Councils also provide large facilities for research by University scientists, and subscriptions to international research organisations. In all these activities, the Government seeks to involve industry and the private sector generally.

In addition to this framework, there is a range of advisory bodies and other non-government institutions. At the centre of government the Cabinet Office reports to the Prime Minister, receiving advice from the Council for Science and Technology (a group of eminent individuals from government, industry and academia), as well as that from the CSA. Parliament considers SET affairs in its own Select Committees, which comprise individual members of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. Other bodies with a significant role include the learned societies and professional institutions.

source: www.oecd.org (UK, science and innovation), 19/01/2005. www.oecd.org/topicdocumentlist/0,3024,en_33873108_33873870_1_1_1_1_37417,00.html

Top of page