Research on drug treatments and sustainable batteries will receive new funding as part of a set of 86 billion pounds Sterling for Science and Technology that will be announced during next week’s expenses.
The regions will be transmitted to 500 million pounds sterling with local leaders given the powers to decide how the investment is targeted in their communities, said the Department of Sciences, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The global package, which will be announced as Chancellor Rachel Reeves will define ministerial spending plans on June 11, should be worth more than 22.5 billion pounds sterling per year by the end of the decade.
The DSIT said that “every corner of the country” would benefit from it, because local leaders have their say on how money is spent to take advantage of the specific expertise to their communities.
In Liverpool, which has a long history in biotechnology, funding will be used to accelerate the discovery of drugs and in the south of Wales, which has the largest group of Great Britain semiconductor, on the design of the micropuces used to supply mobile phones and electric cars.
The Chancellor said: “Great Britain is the home of science and technology. Thanks to the change plan, we are investing in the renewal of Great Britain to create jobs, protect our security against foreign threats and make families of workers better.”
The Secretary of Sciences and Technology, Peter Kyle, said: “Incredible and ambitious research is continuing in all the corners of our country, from Liverpool to Inverness, Swansea in Belfast, which is why the empowerment of regions to exploit expertise and local skills for all our advantage is at the heart of this new funding – helping to offer economic growth at the center of our plan for change.”
Local leaders, including the mayor of Northeast, Kim McGuiness and the mayor of West Midlands, Richard Parker, welcomed the package, but donors have warned more to guarantee the reputation of the science of Great Britain.
John-Arne Rottingen, managing director of Wellcome, the largest non-governmental research fund in Britain, said: “The government rightly recognizes that investment in science and technology is a key to stimulate the economy.
“But although it is positive in financial circumstances, a real flat scientific budget, as well as continuous obstacles such as high visa costs for talented scientists and the university financing crisis, will not be enough in the United Kingdom to make the advances it needs to ensure its reputation for science in an increasingly competitive world.
“The United Kingdom should aim to direct the G7 in the intensity of research, to cause economic growth and the progress of health, science and technology that all benefit us. We are impatient to see all the details on the expenditure exam. ”
Meanwhile, the Physical Institute called for a longer-term strategy for science, including a plan for teachers and other members of the skilled workforce necessary to provide advances.
Tony McBride, Director of Policy and Public Affairs of the Institute, said: “It is good to see the government recognize the power of science and innovation to transform lives and develop prosperity in all parts of the United Kingdom.
“But to fully exploit the transformational potential of research and innovation – wherever it takes place – we need a strategic plan for a decade.
“We hope that the Chancellor’s Declaration on Wednesday will exhibit such a vision.”
Universities UK said the government had made an “smart investment” and that the academic world would put its “wheel shoulder” behind the plans.
Vivienne Stern, director general of the group representing 142 higher education providers in Great Britain, said: “The United Kingdom has a real opportunity to sow long-term growth seeds, benefiting all parts of the United Kingdom-with universities distributed through the country by working with industry and public sector to transform discoveries into economic success.
“They are ready to double with the government, by establishing stronger links with the economy sectors where we have a real place to grow.
“This creates good jobs and attracts investments from Swansea to Aberdeen, Barrow to Plymouth everywhere.”