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The British Academy responds to the spending review
25 Nov 2020
The British Academy has today welcomed the spending review, in which the government reaffirmed its commitment to investment in the UK's research and development sector.
Hetan Shah, Chief Executive of the British Academy, said:
“The British Academy welcomes the government’s continued commitment to the UK’s world-leading research and development sector. The investment will boost growth, create jobs and ensure the UK remains one of the top destinations for the world's most talented researchers.
"Research and innovation in the SHAPE (social science, humanities and arts) disciplines and in STEM will be essential as we attempt to find solutions to the health, economic, cultural and social crises brought on by COVID-19. As the recent British Academy-Royal Society report on vaccine hesitancy has shown, interdisciplinary research can yield invaluable and relevant insights with real-world benefits. We must, therefore, maintain and strengthen our knowledge base in all disciplines.
“We continue to believe strongly in the benefits of overseas aid spending which has supported many important research initiatives that support global development. We are therefore concerned by the proposed changes to this area and the potential impact on international research and keen to hear more detail. We also look forward to further clarity on the UK's plans for association to Horizon Europe and Erasmus.
“We look forward to working closely with the government to ensure that investment in research is carefully coordinated and wielded in a way that is effective and inclusive, delivering a wide range of benefits for all.”
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