Cuts go deep into R&D and collaboration
The closure of DTI GlobalWatch from the end of March 2007 and clawing back of £29 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council are both symptomatic of desperate attempts to cut budgets at the DTI in response to pressures from the Treasury as set out in its Spring Supplementary Statement in Parliament
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A senior Globalwatch promotor told us that he thought the whole thing was the result, “Of a massive c****p” resulting from not getting applications for renewed funding in on time to the right place in consequence of all the re-organisation in the way Innovation is handled at DTI. Dr Randal Richards, EPSRC’s chief executive said, "This is disappointing following the recent publication of EPSRC’s Strategic Plan which seeks innovative ways to promote research and training of the highest quality in the UK. EPSRC will continue to make the case for sustained increases in science and engineering funding, in line with the Government’s Science and Innovation Investment Framework".
DTI GlobalWatch is still holding a number of interesting free seminars resulting from various missions to reveal overseas technology breakthroughs until the end of March and we can only suggest that readers make use of the service before the axe falls.
More information from DTI GlobalWatch
