The Science Research Base

UK investment in research and development to be at least the average of competitor industrialised countries.

Snapshot assessment (October 2004): TEST NOT MET

Government-financed expenditure on research and development in the UK has been an average of 0.55% of Gross Domestic Product using all available figures since 2000. The equivalent average for other countries are Germany : 0.79%; France : 0.83%; USA : 0.78%; Japan : 0.58% and Canada : 0.59%.

[Source: OECD, Main Science & Technology Indicators, 2003, version 2, Table 12]

Universities and Public sector laboratories able to compete with other countries and other careers to attract the best researchers.

Snapshot assessment (October 2004): TEST NOT MET

University Professors currently earn between 20 and 35% less than people doing jobs of a similar level of skill and responsibility in other sectors. Industrial scientists aged 30-34 earn at least 12% to 13% more than their counterparts in universities.

[Source: Royal Society of Chemistry Trends in Remuneration Report 2004; Hay Group Pay Database: 2004]

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The Science and Engineering Research Base is the bedrock on which all other scientific activities are built. They provide the seed corn for technological development and are a source of expert advice in public policy-making.

Our tests of the nation' scientific health in this area are shown on the left.

Science Budget Allocations

CaSE welcomed the overall budget increase. However, CaSE has concerns about the following issues:

• STFC Delivery Plan:

• Economic Impact of Research:

Research Excellence Framework

CaSE is concerned about the effects that the proposed Research Excellence Framework would have on the UK's science and engineering communities. CaSE supports maintaining peer review within a future assessment exercise and is concerned about the REF's proposal to adopt a bibliometric indicator to measure research quality..

CaSE policy documents

• Response to Hefce's consultation on the REF

CaSE in the media

• Research Day (15/02): Peer review essential, says CaSE

• Times Higher Education (14/02): REF Consultation: Academe's Concerns

• Guardian Education (12/02): Backing Peer Review

Engineering Inquiry

CaSE responded the Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee's inquiry into Engineering