R&D target of 2.4% ‘got lost’ amid Horizon uncertainty and ODA cuts

Research sector calls for long-term settlement to provide confidence following Brexit and single-year budgets

Research leaders have called for a long-term R&D funding settlement at the autumn spending review following uncertainty over budget cuts, despite the government’s target to boost funding.

Speaking during a House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee hearing on 21 April, British Academy chief executive Hetan Shah said short-term government R&D funding announcements, as well as recent cuts to research funded by Official Development Assistance (ODA), had led to “considerable uncertainty within the community”.