Recommendation(s): 34 (part)

Recommendation 34 (part): We recommend: to the Government that it promotes and enables, as soon as possible, the establishment of a revolving loan fund of £400 to £500 million, financed jointly by public and private research sponsors, to support infrastructure in a limited number of top quality research departments which can demonstrate a real need.

5.7 The Government shares the widespread concern, reflected in the Committee’s report and in the responses to consultation, about the funding of research infrastructure. It has made a start on addressing urgent needs for equipment for teaching and research through the funding made available for 1998-99. 5.8 The Government welcomes the indication which companies in the private sector have given that they would be willing to continue, and perhaps increase, their joint funding with the public sector of infrastructure projects on a case by case basis, rather than through a loan pool of the kind recommended by the Committee. The Government will pursue with the private sector the scope for strengthening existing infrastructure initiatives, such as the Joint Research Equipment Initiative, which is funded by the HE funding bodies and the Research Councils, with the balance being provided by funds from industry and other sponsors, secured through partnerships established by higher education institutions. The public funding for the current Joint Research Equipment Initiative round has been increased by £13 million, as announced on 13 January 1998.

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