Royal Society responds to Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Science and Technology Framework

In response to the UK Science and Technology Framework, Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society said, “Today’s announcement is a clear signal that research and innovation sit at the heart of the Prime Minister’s productivity and growth agenda for the UK.

“It is also reassuring to see the Secretary of State at the newly created Department for Science, Innovation and Technology launching a plan that aims to bring every part of government together to meet one single goal, cementing the UK’s place in the world as a global science and technology superpower.

“Today’s announcement is welcome and one of the first steps to turning words into action must be securing full association to the EU funding programmes. That represents the base of a globally focussed UK science sector. The extension of the funding underwrite announced today is a welcome intervention, but it is yet another sticking plaster, when the ultimate goal needs to be speedy association now that the barriers to this have been removed by the EU. We need to see a firm commitment from the Prime Minister to delivering full association.”