Any R&D funding clawed back by the government must be reinvested in UK projects and capacity

The Campaign for Science and Engineering has identified £1.6bn in Horizon funding which it says is being clawed back by the Business Department instead of invested in research and development (R&D).

The figure is based on Central Government Supply Estimates 2022-23, which show that  the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (now the Department for Business and Trade) has returned £1.6billion of funds to the Treasury, which had previously been allocated for Horizon Europe association or domestic alternatives.

Garry Graham, Deputy General Secretary of Prospect union, said:

“Effective R&D has to form a large part of the government’s growth agenda so any threat to funding in this area is deeply worrying.

“After leaving the EU the UK has a lot to do just to stand still against global competition and there is a real risk that we start to slide into the lower leagues  of R&D having been a world leader.

“Ministers must guarantee that any money not spent on Horizon membership will be reinvested in UK R&D projects and capacity.

“The government must also ensure the UK is the destination of choice for top-class scientists, and do all it can to retain access to Horizon Europe research funds.”