We highlight chemistry’s unique and varied value to the UK economy, and offer expert advice on how research and innovation and the funding which supports it should be allocated, regulated and assessed. Where new evidence is needed to inform research and innovation policy, we conduct our own research in partnership with the chemical sciences research and innovation community.
Also in Research & innovation:
International funding, collaboration and chemicals regulation
Innovation, commercialisation and knowledge exchange
UK research and economy policies
This section includes policies on the research, development and innovation landscape, including RDI funding.
RDI landscape
Independent review of the research, development and innovation organisational landscape
Our response - December 2021
We responded to the independent review of the research, development and innovation (RDI) organisational landscape which is being led by Sir Paul Nurse. Our response focused on: future opportunities – securing UK position and capability in 21st century chemistry, materials and life sciences; brief summaries of RSC’s Science Horizons and Digital Futures reports; messages from what works for innovation; and findings from our financial health and capability of UK university chemistry departments survey.
Independent review of research bureaucracy
Our response - September 2021
We responded to the research bureaucracy consultation which is being led by Professor Adam Tickell. Our main messages were that there are steps that could be taken to reduce excessive burdens on researchers during the application and delivery of research. However, it is vital that efforts to reduce the burden of work do not stymie ongoing efforts to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion in research.
RDI funding
Senedd Cymru Finance Committee’s Parliamentary inquiry on Post-EU funding arrangements
Our response - April 2022
We responded to the Senedd Cymru Finance Committee’s inquiry on Post-EU funding arrangements. Our main messages were that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) must support research and innovation to secure sustainable regional growth.
Any shortfall in research and innovation regional development funding in Wales or other UK nations and regions compared to funding levels before EU exit which is not met by UKSPF should be replaced from other funds to ensure that the UK research and innovation landscape does not suffer; and the Welsh Government must work with the UK Government in continuing to push for association to Horizon Europe.
Making a new ARPA-style agency work in the UK
Our policy position - February 2021
The UK government plans to invest £800m of public funding by 2024-25 to support high-risk, high-reward research that brings about transformative change to the benefit of the UK economy and society. It is modelled after the US Advanced Research Projects Agency (now DARPA) set up in the late 1950s.
Drawing on evidence from a workshop with members of our R&D Landscape Collective, we recommend that the proposed new UK funding agency be carefully integrated into the existing research and innovation landscape, have the flexibility to invest on timescales beyond parliamentary horizons, and embed inclusion and diversity in its practices and procedures from the outset.
九州影院 evidence: Making a new ARPA-style funding agency work in the UK
House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Parliamentary inquiry on an ARPA-style agency
Our response - September 2020
In April 2020, the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee launched an inquiry into the government's plans. Our submission builds on evidence from members of our community who have worked with similar funding agencies in the US.
Many of our recommendations for creating a successful UK analogue were echoed in the Committee's report, including the need to clearly define the agency's purpose and its unique role in the wider UK R&D landscape, for it to be able to operate independently and pursue high-risk research in a small number of mission areas.
What influences private sector investment in R&D?
Meeting notes - November 2019
As part of 九州影院 Means Business 2019, we held a roundtable discussion with representatives from across chemical sciences industry to understand what factors influence private sector investment in research and development (R&D). This note captures the key discussion points and recommendations. Representatives from SMEs and large companies shared their views on how public investment in R&D, attitudes to risk, tax and immigration all affect the choices that businesses make to invest in R&D in the UK.
House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Parliamentary inquiry on science research funding in universities
Our response - June 2019
In our response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee’s inquiry into science research funding in universities, we outline the role of research in universities in helping to meet the government’s target for combined public and private investment in research. We also highlight the value of quality related (QR) funding to universities and the importance of discovery research, much of which is carried out in universities.
House of Commons Science and Technology Parliamentary inquiry on Balance and effectiveness of research and innovation spending
Our response - September 2018
We responded to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee’s inquiry into . We welcomed the Government’s commitment to increase the UK’s investment in research and development to 2.4% of GDP and highlighted the importance of support for fundamental research alongside challenge-based and applied research. We also emphasised the importance of support for core disciplines, and the role of quality-related (QR) funding in ensuring the long term health of the UK research system.
This section includes policies that explore the relationship between the chemical sciences and government strategies, spending reviews and budgets; building on the chemical sciences' contribution to the economy and society.
UK RDI budget
What the UK’s research, development and innovation sector needs to thrive and deliver prosperity
RSC briefing - October 2022
Amidst UK political and economic turbulence and with the replacement of the Chancellor and Prime Minister casting doubt on R&D funding commitments, we urged the UK Government to put science at the heart of its plan to drive economic growth and take a strategic, long-term approach to R&D funding. While recognising the challenging economic circumstances, reaffirming commitments to investment in science will ensure that the UK remains globally competitive and is equipped to meet challenges such as tackling climate change.
RSC briefing: What the UK’s research, development and innovation
sector needs to thrive and deliver prosperity
Comprehensive Spending Review Representation from the 九州影院
Government budget representation - September 2021
Throughout the pandemic, we have all looked to science to provide the answers, and science has delivered time and time again. The sector has shown the importance of investing in long-term research funding, science education, infrastructure and innovation, to help create a resilient UK. The chemical sciences can be found at the forefront of delivering the Covid recovery, from working on vaccines and testing to innovating new technologies supporting net zero and leading the charge on sustainability.
As the nation faces the fiscal realities of the pandemic the chemical sciences have an important role to play in a green economic recovery. This submission proposes specific and targeted timely investments to enable that and support the Government’s ambition of securing the UK’s position as a “Science Superpower".
Budget submission: Spreading UK prosperity by increasing R&D investment and supporting science education
Government budget representation - February 2020
Our submission to the government ahead of the 2020 Budget sets out recommendations to ensure that increased public UK R&D investment, alongside measures to support science education from school through to university, balances regional prosperity, positions the UK as an innovation leader, and improves the UK’s ability to leverage private R&D investment.
Increasing UK prosperity through R&D investment
RSC policy position and briefing - January 2020
Ahead of an expected Comprehensive Spending Review in 2020, we call on the UK government to plan for and deliver increased public sector investment in R&D, to safeguard the UK's diverse R&D funding landscape, and to work across departments to deliver the skilled workforce the UK's R&D sector needs. Read our position statement and accompanying briefing below.
九州影院 position: Increasing R&D investment for UK prosperity
九州影院 briefing: Enhancing UK prosperity by increasing R&D investment
Enhancing UK prosperity through R&D investment
Government budget representation - September 2019
As the Chancellor prepared to outline a one-year Spending Round ahead of the UK's exit from the EU, we called on the UK government to safeguard the UK's outstanding national research and innovation capacity. As long as no deal is still a prospect, it is vital that the government steps up and establishes a transparent, easy to access contingency fund to support the full breadth of research that is currently funded by the EU.
九州影院 Position for 2019 Spending Round
Opinion piece: Fast track spending review shows promise, while uncertainty continues
House of Commons Science and Technology Parliamentary inquiry on Balance and effectiveness of research and innovation spending
Our response - September 2018
We responded to the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee’s inquiry into . We welcomed the Government’s commitment to increase the UK’s investment in research and development to 2.4% of GDP and highlighted the importance of support for fundamental research alongside challenge-based and applied research. We also emphasised the importance of support for core disciplines, and the role of quality-related (QR) funding in ensuring the long term health of the UK research system.
UK RDI strategies
Welsh Innovation Strategy consultation
Our response - September 2022
We responded to the Welsh Government’s Innovation Strategy for Wales Consultation. Our response focused on sharing learnings from our Igniting Innovation report and associated research into deep tech chemistry SMEs. Following the structure of the consultation, we gave short-, medium- and long-term actions the Welsh government could take to improve the innovation ecosystem in Wales.
We emphasised the need for effective data collection to make evidence-based interventions on funding, inclusion and diversity, and sustainability. We highlighted areas of existing chemical sciences strength in Wales and ways this could attract UK funding to Wales. We commented on areas the Welsh Government had chosen to focus on to attract innovation progress, including sustainability and green energy, agriculture, and healthcare.
Scottish Innovation Strategy consultation
Scottish government consultation response - September 2022
We responded to the Scottish Government’s Innovation Strategy Consultation. Our response focused on sharing learnings from the Igniting Innovation report and associated research into deep tech chemistry SMEs.
We highlighted existing strength in the chemical sciences in Scotland and actions the Scottish Government could take to improve support for innovative SMEs, directly through procurement policies and indirectly through support for tech transfer, generating private investment and increasing training in business and leadership skills.
House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry on Delivering a UK science and technology strategy
Parliamentary inquiry response - March 2022
We responded to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry on Delivering a UK science and technology strategy. Our response focused on the need for a long-term strategy and reassurance in the context of ongoing uncertainty around the UK’s association to Horizon Europe; the need for more efforts to enable collaboration and recognising the outcomes of collaborative work; and the need for more support for SMEs including to overcome investment challenges.
Response to inquiry on Delivering a UK science and technology strategy
UK Research and Development Strategy
RSC policy position - February 2021
The UK research and development system has been highly agile and responsive to the emerging social, health, and economic needs of the UK as we respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. The crisis has highlighted successes but also exposed vulnerabilities in the UK research and innovation funding system.
We call on the government to set out a pathway to meeting its research investment ambitions, draw on evidence from the research and innovation community to deliver fit-for-purpose funding solutions and deliver approaches that will support, retain and develop the people needed to support recovery.
九州影院 Briefing: UK Research and Development Strategy
RSC policy position - July 2020
At a time when the research community is both fighting and feeling the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, we call on the government to set out transparent plans for increased investment, protect and stabilise key parts of the UK R&D system and work across departments to deliver the future skilled workforce the UK needs.
Science Budget and Industrial Strategy
Parliamentary inquiry response - October 2017
The House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee conducted an inquiry into the Science Budget and Industrial Strategy. Our response called for support for the full spectrum of research, including core disciplines and curiosity-driven research, alongside interdisciplinary and challenge-driven research. We also highlighted the role of the Research Councils in delivering the vision of UK Research & Innovation and the need for wider consultation on future Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF) funding calls to ensure stakeholder confidence.
Life Sciences and the Industrial Strategy
Parliamentary inquiry response - September 2017
We responded to the House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee inquiry into Life Sciences and the Industrial Strategy. Our response focussed on the role of chemistry in life sciences, barriers to and enablers of innovation and the role of the EU in UK life sciences. We drew upon examples from our Open For Business report and from our own activities to support innovation, such as the competition.
Building our Industrial Strategy
Government consultation response - April 2017
In January 2017, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy published a for a new industrial strategy and asked for comment. Our response discussed increased investment in research and development, the role of regulation, showcasing success and impact from existing intiatives, vocational education and the UK's needs following exit from the European Union.
People are the cornerstone of delivering the UK’s RDI ambitions. This section includes policies and legislation related to people, skills and science culture, including open science and research assessment.
Science culture - assessment
Future Research Assessment Programme
Consultation response - May 2022
The four UK higher education funding bodies (Research England, Scottish Funding Council, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and Department for the Economy, Northern-Ireland) launched the Future Research Assessment Programme (FRAP) to understand what a healthy, thriving research system looks like and how an assessment model can best form its foundation.
We responded to a consultation part of this programme that asked questions about the purpose of a future exercise; the principles that should guide its development; and the assessment criteria and assessment processes. Our response was informed by two focus groups with members from across our community and a discussion at the spring 2022 Heads of 九州影院 UK conference.
HEFCE's consultation on the second Research Excellence Framework
HEFCE consultation response - April 2017
A HEFCE consultation was launched which set out proposals on how to implement the next Research Exellence Framework, building on the REF 2014 and incorporating the principles identified in Lord Stern's Independent Review of the REF. The stated aims of the proposals were to reduce the burden associated with the REF process while maintaining and improving incentives for research excellence. In our response we focused on proposed changes which would significantly impact the outcome for chemistry in REF 2021.
Lord Stern’s review of the Research Excellence Framework
Independent review response - April 2016
A UK-wide review chaired by Lord Stern was launched to review the Research Excellence Framework (REF) to ensure that future university research funding is allocated more efficiently, offers greater rewards for excellent research and reduces the administrative burden on institutions.
In our response we concluded that while the costs of the REF to institutions and HEFCE should be reduced where possible, a balance will need to be struck to maintain the quality and effectiveness of this exercise. We welcomed the opportunity to respond to the above consultation, and would be pleased to continue working with the Government as plans develop and further details are available.
Science culture - diversity
House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry on Diversity in STEM
Parliamentary inquiry response - January 2022
We responded to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry on Diversity in STEM. Our submission included evidence on the underrepresentation of certain groups in the chemical sciences; evidence as to why these groups are underrepresented; negative impacts of the underrepresentation of these groups in chemistry and STEM; examples of the work the RSC is undertaking and participating in to address underrepresentation in the chemical sciences; and recommendations for the UK Government, UKRI, other funding bodies, industry and academia.
Improving diversity in the chemical sciences
RSC policy position - February 2020
We are committed to improving inclusion and diversity in research environments. By "inclusion", we mean that people feel they belong in the world of chemical sciences; by "diversity" we mean anything that can make us different from others.
Building on evidence from our inclusion and diversity work, including our ‘Diversity landscape of the chemical sciences’, ‘Exploring the workplace for LGBT+ physical scientists’, ‘Breaking the barriers’ and ‘Is publishing in the chemical sciences gender biased?’ reports, and the outcomes of the review of our prizes and awards ‘Re-thinking recognition: Science prizes for the modern world’, we developed a position statement on research culture – improving diversity in the chemical sciences.
We believe that organisations in the research landscape, including employers (universities, institutions and companies), funders, learned societies, academies and publishers, need to act to improve diversity in research environments and give recognition to the diverse contributions researchers make to advance science and society.
Science culture - open science
Open Access and Plan S
RSC policy position - December 2019
The RSC is highly committed to increasing Open Access to high quality scholarly research. In 2018, a coalition of research funders referred to as cOAlition S, including UKRI and Wellcome Trust, expressed their commitment to move to Open Access through Plan S. We formulated an initial position on Plan S, recommending that its roll-out is part of a global transition and Open Access for everyone is ensured. The position will be developed further following engagement with the 九州影院 Community.
cOAlition S consultation response
Consultation response - February 2019
We submitted a response to cOAlition S’s consultation that asked the questions:
- Is there anything unclear or are there any issues that have not been addressed by the guidance document?
- Are there other mechanisms or requirements funders should consider to foster full and immediate Open Access of research outputs?
People and skills
House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry on People and skills in UK STEM
Parliamentary inquiry response - September 2022
Our evidence on high upfront visa costs forming a barrier to attracting international talent and on worsening precarity of academic careers was quoted in the with the findings of the inquiry.
We responded to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry on People and skills in UK STEM. Our submission included evidence on attracting international talent to the UK; equipping students for a range of careers through postgraduate, technical and vocational chemistry education; recruitment and retention of teachers; lifting barriers to STEM education for young people of all backgrounds; and improving the quality of academic careers.
UKRI consultation on New deal for postgraduate research
UKRI consultation response - May 2022
We responded to the UKRI consultation on New deal for postgraduate research. The consultation asked about goals of postgraduate research training; models and access; routes in, through and out; rights and conditions; funding and financial support; and future engagement on the New deal.
Public Accounts Committee inquiry on Delivering STEM skills for the economy
Parliamentary inquiry response - July 2018
We used the opportunity to highlight our existing policy positions relevant to this issue, as well as evidence related to STEM skills. Our response covered:
- teacher recruitment and retention
- the need for high quality vocational routes
- skills shortages in our community
- the benefits of collaborations between employers and universities, for example good practice on undergraduate work placements
- the importance of access to international talent in the chemical sciences
- the need for further action on inclusion and diversity in the chemical sciences