The British Academy responds to the Smith-Reid Review

In response to Professor Sir Adrian Smith and Professor Graeme Reid’s independent review, 'Changes and choices: advice on future frameworks for international collaboration on research and innovation', Professor Sir David Cannadine, President of the British Academy, said:

“The review rightly underlines the need to protect and stabilise UK research and innovation. The options it sets out present an ambitious vision for international collaboration in the future. We welcome in particular the proposal for a significant increase in investment in international research and innovation, including a substantial uplift for basic research.

“Our links with Europe and EU funding programmes have been enormously advantageous; not only financially in EU funding competitions where the UK consistently over-performs, but also in the access granted to expertise, networking, collaboration and the building of international research teams.

“Therefore central to realising the review’s ambition is committing funding, immediately after the election, so that the UK is equipped to seek a strong form of association to EU Framework Programmes – this would be a true show of faith to our European and international partners and critical to the health of the humanities and social sciences. Any alternative arrangements should have, in addition to adequate funding, comparable commitments to international kite-marking, collaboration and mobility.”

“We look forward to engaging with the detail of the recommendations and their delivery.”