Written evidence submitted by The Royal Society of Edinburgh (UKR0016)

Introduction

1. The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has contributed on several occasions to the debate that has now resulted in the Higher Education & Research Bill, which is now proposing to introduce the new body UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).  This has included: a submission to the Nurse Review[1]; a response to the consultation on the Teaching Excellence Framework[2]; a commentary on the Nurse Review once published[3]; and a briefing note for MPs at the Second Reading[4].

2. This Advice Paper draws on the earlier papers referred to, which were prepared with input from a range of RSE Fellows and Young Academy of Scotland members with considerable experience of the UK research and Higher Education systems. This submission has been approved on behalf of RSE Council by the General Secretary, Professor Alan Alexander.

United Kingdom Research and Innovation

3. We welcome the retention of the seven disciplinary research councils – mergers or changes to the structure at this time could have been a distraction at this time and might ultimately have negatively impacted upon the UK’s research capability. This issue is all the more important since the referendum vote to leave the European Union. The RSE has also prepared a paper that considers the implications of Brexit for science and research[5].

4. An early priority for the Interim Chief Executive of UKRI must be to seek to represent the interests of the research community in seeking to maintain continued access to the European research community in terms of both continued collaboration and access to funding both during the period of negotiation of Brexit and thereafter.

5. A strength of the UK’s research councils system is that it covers the entirety of human knowledge, from plasma physics to proteomics, from demography to design. The existing research councils are well respected by their communities at home and internationally.

6. The RSE supports the establishment of UKRI within the context of a UK research and innovation budget that has been maintained in real terms overall. UKRI should be able to give focus and co-ordination to the voice of the research community. It is essential though that this stronger voice does not come at the expense of the emasculation of the seven research councils.

7. We have significant concerns that the inclusion of Research England within UKRI could unintentionally distort the focus of UKRI towards England at the expense of the three devolved nations. If Research England is to be included in UKRI it is essential that strong lines of engagement are in place with the Scottish Government, Universities Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council. This should be included on the face of the Bill as passed by Parliament. This issue was also raised by the Chief Executive of Universities Scotland at the Bill Committee. Bringing Research England into the same family as the research councils potentially undermines the whole concept of the dual-funding model of support that has served UK research well for many years.

8. The Committee may wish to explore whether there should be statutory protection for the interests of the research communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, or if not how this can be achieved through the governance regime of UKRI.

Innovate UK

9. The case for incorporating Innovate UK into the structure of UKRI has not thus far been convincing. The RSE is happy to support enhanced collaboration between the research councils and Innovate UK, however we do not believe that it is necessary for them to be within the same organisational structure.

10. There are two main problems with the proposed approach. Firstly, the research councils and Innovate UK support two completely different communities, in higher education and research and business. Secondly, with the move of Innovate UK towards a loan based approach rather than grant we are concerned that this in time could have an impact on the budgets of the research councils.

11. As both Innovate UK and the research councils are regarded as being well-performing, a far stronger case for incorporating Innovate UK within UKRI needs to be made than has been apparent thus far.

October 2016