UK Government unveils science blueprint

The UK Government has launched a consultation with business, research foundations and the scientific community on the framework for a ten-year strategy for investment in science and engineering.

Speaking to senior figures from science and industry at a National Science Week event at 11 Downing Street, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, promised to protect the large funding increases for science and engineering announced in the last Spending Review, and pledged increased investment in future years.

The Chancellor stressed that the delivery of the objectives set out in the ten-year framework would depend on collaboration between Government and business, research foundations and the investment community to ensure the overall level of investment required.

A number of major companies, including GaxoSmithkline (GSK), AstraZeneca (AZ), Shell and Amersham are already in discussions with the Government on how their commercial investment in r&d and innovation can partner public investment in the UK science base, with GSK and AZ announcing over £100m of investment in individual research, science and technology projects today.

The consultation will set out the aims and ambitions of the ten-year framework, with the ultimate purpose of making Britain one of the most competitive locations for science, research and development and for innovation. The aims include:

• world class excellence from the best centres of science and technology, driven by competition for funding and talent;

• a dynamic research base that meets the needs of both public and private investors and is managed effectively to achieve financial sustainability;

• greater collaboration between universities and business to provide a sharper focus for research and an impetus to innovation and productivity growth;

• better commercial translation of leading edge technologies into applications in business and the public sector;

• the science and technology skills that the nation's businesses and public services will need over the next decade, underpinned by excellent teaching in schools to engage the next generation of workers in the knowledge economy; and

• a society that is confident about the regulation and use of science and technology.

Brown said: 'National Science Week is an ideal time not just to be celebrating Britain's history of scientific excellence but to look forward to a future in which science and engineering skills will be even more crucial to Britain's ability to compete in high technol-ogy, high-value sectors. So we are preparing new partnerships with businesses and charities to meet this global challenge.