A document published jointly by the Academy of Medical Sciences, the British Academy, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society calls on the next Government to ensure that the UK maintains and grows a strong
research and innovation base.
Building a stronger future: Research, innovation and growth states that the new Government elected in May has “an opportunity to build on our strengths and help make the UK the best place in the world to do research and innovation”.
The academies suggest that whichever party wins in the spring should: secure prosperity by strengthening public investment in research and innovation; meet demand for research skills through a flexible and diverse workforce; and strengthen policy by embedding expert advice across Government.
The document calls on the next Government to “create an environment that attracts more industrial and charitable investment in research and innovation”, in addition to that from Government. It also emphasises the need for more teachers with specialist subject knowledge at all stages of education.
Lord Stern, president of the British Academy, said: “Research drives innovation and innovation drives growth and a healthy society and democracy. The UK already produces some of the most cutting-edge research in the world — 15.9% of the world’s most highly cited articles come from the UK and it ranks second for the quality of its scientific institutions.
“However, we cannot take this leadership in research for granted. Top-quality research and innovation can help us tackle some of the challenges that the UK faces as a society — improving health, producing more sustainable energy and bringing stronger education and skills across the whole workforce. We will be looking for the new Government to place its commitment to research, through investment and informed policies, at the heart of its programme for the UK.”
Professor Dame Ann Dowling, president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “We need high-quality skills across all disciplines to meet the demand from the UK research and innovation base and the wider economy.
“As well as growing the UK skills base, we must compete for the high-quality global research and student talent available by having the right policies in place to encourage immigration that will benefit the nation. International research networks are growing in strength; we need to think in terms of being part of the ‘brain circulation’ and not focus on the ‘brain drain’ ”.