MPs to examine access to funding for Scotland’s scientific research
In the final evidence session of its inquiry on Scotland’s science sector, the Scottish Affairs Committee hears from research funding bodies on Monday 4 March at 3pm.
The Scottish Funding Council and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the UK’s biggest research funder, will appear before MPs to discuss levels of and access to financial support for scientific research projects in Scotland.
Meeting details
Questions for UKRI are likely to cover whether Scotland receives a fair proportion of funding, given that it has 11.4% of researchers in the UK yet receives 5.9% of Innovate UK’s funding.
When questioned on this at an earlier session, UK Government Science Minister Andrew Griffith MP told the Committee that Scottish institutions’ applications to Innovate UK have a higher success rate than the UK average. He added: “when Scottish institutions apply – when they compete, when they show up – they do very well. Let us have more of them showing up.”