What feels like an age ago (but was actually only in 2021) I asked a pretty fundamental question – why is it that universities are often seen as the primary source of research acumen in the UK?
It’s not unreasonable to ask.
There is, of course, a great deal of research that takes place elsewhere – in industry, in other parts of the public sector (via Public Sector Research Establishments, or PSREs), in charities, and in other organisations supported directly by research funding councils.
We don’t hear so much about this research – and in terms of direct government support it is dwarfed by both funding and infrastructure funding flowing to the university sector.
Now, it seems, this perennial cinderella of the research world is seeing a new moment in the light – with uncertain implications for universities.
