UK Science Policy: guide to the Government Office for Science
The UK National Audit Office has published a Short Guide to the Government Office for Science.
Organizations
@nhm_science
National Audit Office
UK Science Policy: NAO report on Cross-government funding of research and development
The UK National Audit Office has published a report on cross-government funding of research and development. This can be seen in the context of UK plans on Brexit and the need for UK Research and Innovation to develop leadership and strategic capabilities for the UK science base for the future. The findings are summarised as:
“Some areas of research have well-established arrangements to support coordination and collaboration between public-sector funders. But some newer areas, including important emerging technologies and areas of national importance, need more effective leadership.As a proportion of GDP the UK spends less on research and development than many comparable nations. Government needs a coherent view of the UK’s research strengths relative to other nations and analysis of funding in key areas of research, so that it can prioritise areas where activity is lagging behind and ensure the UK is investing in the right areas.”
In addtion to the Report, there are more detailed documents on methodology and key sectors that receive funding from multiple sources in government:
- Research and Development Evaluative Framework
- Research and development case study Climate research
- Research and development case study Energy research
- Research and development case study Human health research
- Research and development case study Robotics and autonomous systems research
- Research and development case study Advanced materials research
- Research and development case study Animal and plant health research
Science Policy: international comparisons of Science, technology and Industry
The UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published Science and Innovation: international benchmarking, showing the UK in an international context with a few other countries. Shows areas of strength and weakness for the UK, with a strong message of the importance of sustained national investment in R&D, where the UK is falling behind similar countries.
In a broader international context, it's interesting to read the biennial OECD Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2013: Innovation for Growth which gives detailed international comparisons within OECD and for a range of other countries. This is published in alternate years to an outlook statistical report, the latest being the OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook 2012.
UK statistics on Science, Engineering and Technology are published annually, with the most recent for 2013. A useful overview since 1995 was produced in 2013 by the National Audit Office for the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee to inform its 2013 inquiry on Research and Development Funding for Science and Technology in the UK.
Science Policy UK: Overview and Inquiry on UK R&D spending since 1995
The UK National Audit Office has produced a memorandum - Research and Development Funding for Science and Technology - for the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee in preparation for an inquiry on R&D funding - deadline for submission of evidence 28 August 2013.
