UK science

The main performers of public science, engineering and technology (SET) research in the UK are the universities1 (which perform the dual role of teaching and research) and the Research Council Institutes. Funds for research also come from industry, EC Framework programmes, charities and other sources.
As the organogram below shows, money from the Treasury flows through numerous channels on its way to research performers. Among the many Government departments providing money for SET, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is notable. Under the so-called ‘dual support system’ for funding university research, the Higher Education Funding Councils distribute funds for the basic infrastructure for carrying out research, and in England this money comes from DIUS. As education is an area of responsibility for the devolved administrations, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own Higher Education Funding Councils, which receive funds from the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, respectively. The other arm of the ‘dual support system’ is funding for research projects and individuals, and DIUS provides funds for this which is distributed, via the Research Councils, to universities and Research Council Institutes over the whole of the UK.

Government responsibilities for science, engineering and technology (SET) :
Although the major responsibility for overseeing science, engineering and technology (SET) activity lies with the recently formed Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, it is not the only Government department to be involved. Most Government departments are responsible for some aspect of SET. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, for example, is responsible for science in the UK’s national museums, many of which perform research. Some departments, such as the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), even allow researchers to search for information about DEFRA-funded projects on an internet database. In October 2007, the former Science Minister, Lord Sainsbury published his Review of the UK science and innovation system. The Review examines the role of science and innovation in ensuring the UK remains competitive in an increasingly globalised economy. This placed a high importance on the Technology Strategy Board, which should work with the Regional Development Agencies, the Research Councils and government departments to “co-ordinate public sector support for technological innovation, leverage public sector resources and simplify access to funds for business”. The review also indicated the need to focus on innovation and knowledge transfer, as well as increasing international collaborations.
The remainder of this section of the Guide provides more detail on the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS). For more information on other Government departments, the various committees and groups responsible for policy formation in science, engineering and technology, and science and technology policy expertise in academia, see the fourth section of this guide, which is devoted to Science and Technology Policy research and practice.