UK Autumn Budget Injects £600 Million Into Research. (December 7, 2012)

The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, in bringing down his autumn (midterm) budget announced an addition of about £600 million (A$919 million) for scientific research.

According to RCUK (Research Councils UK), the body that represents Britain's seven research councils, the additional funding is earmarked for big data and energy efficient computing, synthetic biology, energy storage, and advance materials.

Paul Hardaker, chief executive of the Institute of Physics in London said: "Science adds significant value to the economy and society so to see it prioritised alongside school infrastructure, fast transport links and new houses is very positive."

The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) director, Imran Khan, told ScienceInsider that while the government had made up some of the shortfall with bits and pieces of new funding over the past 2 years CaSE had been "hoping that the Chancellor would continue his trend of supporting science and engineering, and are really delighted with this new commitment - the total amount of new funding since 2010 has now reached almost £2 billion".