Leading UK scientists believe no vote in Scottish referendum will protect funding
29 May 2014 10:30 AM
Protecting research
funding in Scottish institutions if Scotland votes for
independence.
Some of the UK’s top
scientists have written a letter voicing concerns about the possible impact on
research funding if Scotland votes for independence. The letter, published
in The Scotsman, warns the millions of pounds Scottish institutions
currently receive from UK organisations and charities could be in jeopardy if
Scotland splits from the Union.
The scientists, including Sir
David Carter, a former chief medical officer, biochemist Professor Jean Beggs,
genetics expert Professor Nicholas Hastie and clinical surgery specialist
Professor James Garden, highlight that Scotland received UK Research Council
grants totalling £257 million in 2012 to 2013 – 13.1% of the
funding available despite having just 8.4% of the UK
population.
Get the facts on the Scottish independence
referendum.
Together, Scotland and the rest
of the UK have a large, heavily integrated, and thriving research base which is
highly respected across the world. The UK is ranked second only to the US in
terms of world-class research, and the UK’s share of the world’s
top 1% most cited publications is on an upward trend. The UK has 31
institutions in the world’s top 200 universities, with 5 (16% of the
UK’s representation), located in Scotland.
Research
Council funding is allocated on the basis of excellence through a
competitive peer review process, regardless of where in the UK it takes place.
As part of the UK, Scotland’s well-developed and high performing research
base means that Scottish research institutions have traditionally performed
strongly.
For more information about how
Scottish independence could effect science funding, see ‘Scotland analysis:
science and research.