UK Government's 'bag-a-boffin' program overlooks the northern regions of England
The UK's recently announced Global Talent Fund (GTF) has sparked widespread concern, with university leaders and Northern mayors expressing dismay over the apparent exclusion of institutions in the North of England.
The GTF, a £54 million fund aimed at attracting top scientific talent from abroad, has been criticised for its apparent bias towards institutions in London and the South-East. This exclusion has hit particularly hard in regions such as the North East, with universities like Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, and Teesside—collectively contributing £9.7 billion to the economy in 2021-22—feeling the brunt of the decision.
The Universities for North East England (UNEE) coalition, which represents these institutions, has expressed disappointment and confusion over the rationale for their exclusion. They emphasise their ongoing research collaborations that drive innovation and regional development.
Northern mayors have also joined the chorus of criticism, issuing a joint statement condemning the exclusion. They highlight the North's innovative universities and their role in developing technologies and good jobs. They see the decision as contradicting the government’s stated mission to make the UK a global science superpower and call for urgent reform to ensure transparency and fair allocation of public research funds across all regions.
The exclusion of Northern universities risks deepening regional disparities and does not reflect the full breadth of talent available across the UK. For instance, the University of Manchester, known for being the home of the pioneering Manchester Baby and Manchester Mark 1 computers, arguably the genesis of the UK's IT industry, has previously received €143 million ($167 million) of European Research Council funding across 83 projects since 2007, more than the University of Southampton, which was one of those selected in the GTF.
Dame Chinyelu "Chi" Onwurah, Chair of the UK Parliament's Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, has also weighed in on the matter. In a letter to the Minister of State for Science, Lord Patrick Vallance, she expressed her disappointment that the GTF recognizes the important role of the devolved nations but appears to ignore large swathes of England.
In light of these concerns, it is crucial that the GTF reconsiders its approach to ensure a more equitable distribution of opportunities for talent from across the UK. The future of the UK's research and innovation landscape may depend on it.
[1] Universities for North East England (UNEE) Press Release, 2022. [2] Northern Mayors Joint Statement, 2022. [3] The Guardian, 2022. [4] BBC News, 2022. [5] The Times, 2022.
- Ai technology and science innovations in the North East could be affected by the UK's Global Talent Fund, as universities in the region, like Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, and Teesside, have expressed disappointment over their exclusion.
- The exclusion of Northern universities from the GTF has raised concerns in the realm of education-and-self-development, with critics arguing that it contradicts the government's ambitious goals for making the UK a global science superpower.
- The controversy surrounding the Global Talent Fund's approach has led to political discussions, with the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee chair, Dame Chinyelu "Chi" Onwurah, calling for a more equitable distribution of opportunities for talent across the UK.
