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Vince Cable to signal cuts to science funding Vince Cable to signal cuts to science funding
(40 minutes later)
Business Secretary Vince Cable is expected to signal a squeeze on public funding for scientific research.Business Secretary Vince Cable is expected to signal a squeeze on public funding for scientific research.
He will urge universities to do "more for less" and say taxpayers should only back research that has a commercial use or was academically outstanding.He will urge universities to do "more for less" and say taxpayers should only back research that has a commercial use or was academically outstanding.
Mr Cable's London audience will be told the government "values" UK science and research and spends £4.3bn a year.Mr Cable's London audience will be told the government "values" UK science and research and spends £4.3bn a year.
Martin Reese, president of the Royal Society, said cutting science funding would be a false economy. Lord Rees, president of the Royal Society, said cutting science funding would be a false economy.
Mr Cable's speech comes ahead of next month's Comprehensive Spending Review, which is likely to squeeze resources.Mr Cable's speech comes ahead of next month's Comprehensive Spending Review, which is likely to squeeze resources.
The business secretary is expected to urge universities to find ways of earning money from their research in order to make up for limits on public spending.The business secretary is expected to urge universities to find ways of earning money from their research in order to make up for limits on public spending.
He is set to say: "There is a school of thought which says that government commitment to science and technology is measured by how much money it spends.He is set to say: "There is a school of thought which says that government commitment to science and technology is measured by how much money it spends.
"Money is important both for the quantity and quality. But it is an input - not an output - measure. We could do more for less.""Money is important both for the quantity and quality. But it is an input - not an output - measure. We could do more for less."
Setting out the coalition's strategy for funding science, Mr Cable is expected say he supports top-class "blue skies" research, but "there is no justification for taxpayers' money being used to support research which is neither commercially useful nor theoretically outstanding".Setting out the coalition's strategy for funding science, Mr Cable is expected say he supports top-class "blue skies" research, but "there is no justification for taxpayers' money being used to support research which is neither commercially useful nor theoretically outstanding".
Vince Cable's message to the scientific community is a pretty blunt one - you need to be less reliant on the state and taxpayers' money.Vince Cable's message to the scientific community is a pretty blunt one - you need to be less reliant on the state and taxpayers' money.
The problem is many would argue that only the state can provide scientists with the sort of guaranteed, long term funding to make the great scientific breakthroughs.The problem is many would argue that only the state can provide scientists with the sort of guaranteed, long term funding to make the great scientific breakthroughs.
There is also a suspicion that Mr Cable's pledge to "ration by excellence" amounts to a scientific version of Labour's old and discredited "picking winners" industrial strategy.There is also a suspicion that Mr Cable's pledge to "ration by excellence" amounts to a scientific version of Labour's old and discredited "picking winners" industrial strategy.
And, scientists will no doubt point out that the great eureka moments do not happen to an orderly timescale. Often they happen by accident and after years of seemingly futile research. And, scientists will no doubt point out that the great eureka moments do not happen to an orderly time scale. Often they happen by accident and after years of seemingly futile research.
Lastly, Labour will claim that cutting science budgets damages our prospects for future economic growth.Lastly, Labour will claim that cutting science budgets damages our prospects for future economic growth.
Mr Cable may find he has a fight on his hands.Mr Cable may find he has a fight on his hands.
The Liberal Democrat minister will say that "transforming research into innovation" by linking research institutions to business is crucial.The Liberal Democrat minister will say that "transforming research into innovation" by linking research institutions to business is crucial.
"It is not a case of ditching scientific research that doesn't offer an immediate economic benefit. But I do think we need to do more to ensure that we reap the benefits of research," he will tell his audience."It is not a case of ditching scientific research that doesn't offer an immediate economic benefit. But I do think we need to do more to ensure that we reap the benefits of research," he will tell his audience.
But Mr Reese, president of the Royal Society, told the Financial Times: "It is crucial that short-term austerity should not undermine our science and innovation capacity. But Royal Society president Lord Rees told the Financial Times: "It is crucial that short-term austerity should not undermine our science and innovation capacity.
"Global competition for the most talented individuals, the most innovative companies and leadership in high-tech sectors is intensifying."Global competition for the most talented individuals, the most innovative companies and leadership in high-tech sectors is intensifying.
"Cuts would create the impression that UK science is in relative decline and make the UK a less attractive location for mobile talent and investment."Cuts would create the impression that UK science is in relative decline and make the UK a less attractive location for mobile talent and investment.
"They would send a message to the UK's young people - savvy about trends and anxious about their future - that the UK is no longer at the cutting edge of science.""They would send a message to the UK's young people - savvy about trends and anxious about their future - that the UK is no longer at the cutting edge of science."