May 2021 E-bulletin
R&D Decade | Education briefing | Horizon Europe | Elections | Resources for the sector
A new voice for R&D investment
Today CaSE has announced a grant, 'A new voice for R&D investment', from the Wellcome Trust to build a campaign that can transform public support for R&D investment, as the next phase of its R&D Decade project. 

To ensure that Government commitments on R&D spending become a reality in the face of competing pressures, it is vital that political support be backed up by public support for investing tax-payers money into R&D. The new grant will fund a campaign building on the project's initial findings, looking to transform public attitudes and build a broad and lasting base of support for research funding.

The grant represents an exciting new chapter for CaSE, allowing us to do more by adding a new campaign of public advocacy work, bringing even greater value to our members and the wider sector. To provide strategic guidance to the project, CaSE is now recruiting for a Project Chair and Project Director to oversee the campaign. Deadlines for both are in June.
Inspiring Innovation education briefing
CaSE has also published Inspiring Innovation, a new briefing putting forward recommendations for the UK and devolved governments to enable them to provide high-quality science education in primary and secondary schools across the UK.

High-quality science education is crucial to driving forward the government’s plans to grow and ‘level-up’ the UK economy and society. With the UK set to increase its public research investment to £22bn by 2024/25, it’s important that everyone should be able to participate and prosper in a more innovative economy and society.

The publishing of the briefing was supported by a letter from CaSE's Executive Director in The Times. The briefing will be used to inform CaSE's policy work moving forwards and we will be championing the recommendations in our discussions with government, policy-makers and the sector right across the UK.
Securing research funding for Horizon Europe
Over the last three months, CaSE has worked hard to resolve the issue of funding for Horizon Europe. We highlighted the implications of the funding gap in Parliament and raised its profile in the media, bringing together the sector leaders to speak on the issue. Following the actions the Government announced £250m of additional funds to support payment of the bill for Horizon Europe for 2021/22.

CaSE will continue to seek clarity on long-term funding ahead of the upcoming Spending Review, as well as campaigning on ODA cuts and support for medical research charities.

Elsewhere on Horizon Europe we were pleased to hold a digital roundtable for members with representatives from the UK Mission to the EU in Brussels and the Department for Business last month. Over fifty member organisations took part in the discussion on how the future UK-EU relationship will work in practice and its effect on research collaboration. A write-up of the event has now been published.
Devolved and Mayoral Elections
Ahead of May's local and devolved elections, CaSE wrote to the leaders of political parties in Scotland and Wales and candidates in the regional mayoral elections across the UK, inviting them to embrace the opportunities offered by science and engineering.

The letters continue CaSE's Power of Place work, examining how to maximise the local economic impact of greater R&D intensity throughout the UK. Following the elections, we look forward to working with all devolved parties and regional mayors to help inform and develop their policies on science and engineering.
Resources for the Sector
Our guest blog series brings together topical comment and views from members and collaborators across the science and engineering sector. If you would like to write an article for our blog, please get in touch. Recent posts include:


CaSE advertises science policy job vacancies on our website. Postings are free of charge to CaSE member organisations and other non-profit organisations in the science and engineering policy sector. If you are a prospective employer and would like to advertise please get in touch.

We also list open consultations and inquiries relating to science and engineering policy.
Engaging with the Sector
CaSE has met and engaged with a diverse range of sector representatives over the last month, including the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Association of Medical Research Charities, the BCS Academy of Computing, Cancer Research UK, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the University of Kent, the Medical Research Council, Queen Mary University of London, the Royal Society of Biology, the Royal Society, the Science Council, the University of Sheffield, the University of St Andrews, the University of Sussex and UKRI. 

We're also pleased to have established a partnership with Lego and held a roundtable on talent with them and government as part of the Innovation Strategy.
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