Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Ian Lucas (Labour). It was answered on Thursday, 27 March 2008 on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Science and Innovation Campuses

Question: New universities with science and innovation campuses, such as the one that we hope to have very shortly in Wrexham, often have the closest relationships with industry. What can my hon. Friend do to ensure that such universities have equal access to research funding, which should not be allocated on a purely historic basis?

Answer: One of the great things that we have seen over the last 10 years is increased and sustained investment in the science budget, with greater business interaction between the university research base and companies in particular areas. Research funding is provided on the basis of peer review proposals through the research councils, so it is not based on historic performance at all. It will be up to universities to submit good quality applications to be considered by the research councils. One of the exciting things that has happened as a result of the new spending round is that, for the first time, there are big cross-council research programmes that address some of the biggest challenges facing the world today, such as living with environmental change, energy and so on. There are opportunities for researchers to put forward project proposals to work in those exciting areas, which could be hugely important for the UK and globally.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 474 c309-10
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Business Finance Industry Innovation Higher education Research Science Education Daresbury Laboratory Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk