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Science Minister Jo Johnson welcomes Sir Paul Nurse's independent review on the future of Research Councils.

Sir Paul Nurse has yesterday (19 November 2015) published his independent review on the future of the UK Research Councils to explore how they can support the UK’s world-leading research most effectively.

The government asked Sir Paul to carry out the review to ensure that the UK continues to support world-leading science and invests public money in the best possible way.

Responding to the review, Universities and Science Minister Jo Johnson said:

Our research base is world-class and this government is committed to ensuring its continued success. I welcome this independent report and would like to thank Sir Paul for providing his expertise and insight.

Sir Paul’s recommendations reinforce the important steps the Research Councils are taking to work together in a more strategic and efficient way. The government will carefully consider the proposal to establish Research UK and we will respond in detail to the report in due course.

I encourage everyone with an interest in the future of our research and innovation landscape to consider this review alongside the proposals set out in the Higher Education Green Paper we published recently.

Notes to editors

1. The Nurse review is published online at Nurse review of research councils: recommendations

2. The Nurse review was announced as part of the government’s science and innovation strategy in December 2014.

3. Sir Paul Nurse was supported during his review by an Advisory Group of 8 leaders bringing expertise from research, academia and industry.

4. Sir Paul also formed a wider reference group to help test the review’s emerging thinking which included representatives from Research Councils UK, Universities UK, Innovate UK, the Russell Group and the Universities Alliance.