R&D sector “extremely concerned about prospect of cuts”, prominent science figures say in Times letter

Prominent science figures including physicist Brian Cox, University of Oxford vice-chancellor Irene Tracey and Wellcome Trust chief executive John-Arne Røttingen have signed an open letter warning the government that effective cuts to the research budget would hit the UK’s economic growth.

In a letter to the Times published on 21 October, the signatories say the R&D sector is “extremely concerned about the prospect of cuts to the science budget”.

Research Professional News has revealed fears that extra costs related to the UK’s membership of the EU research programme Horizon Europe, set to be added into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s budget, could deliver an effective cut of up to £1 billion to the research budget.

A number of sector sources believe that cuts of that scale would leave the national funder UK Research and Innovation unable to make new grants in 2025-26, RPN has also reported.

Other signatories to the Times letter include Tim Hunt, emeritus group leader at the Francis Crick Institute, and Nancy Rothwell, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester.

Critical moment

“Next week’s budget is a critical moment,” says the letter. “We recognise that there are difficult decisions to be made with the public finances, but it is vital that R&D’s long-term ability to grow the economy isn’t undermined by the false economy of short-term cuts.

“Cuts now would lead to the loss of jobs, expertise and momentum right when the sector is needed to make a vital contribution to boosting economic growth and productivity.

“We are urging the government to use the budget and spending review to commit itself to continued investment in R&D and signal that the UK is serious about its role in contributing to sustained growth.”

The letter uses a similar wording to that sent last week by the Campaign for Science and Engineering to chancellor Rachel Reeves. Case executive director Alicia Greated is also a signatory to the Times letter.