Martin Smith

Great initiative by Wiley! The publisher has started marking retracted papers in reference lists. When you click on the retraction notice, you can also see the date and reason for the retraction.
All publishers should adopt this practice. But also screen references during submission.

EU records 59.5% rise in R&D allocations over ten years, study shows From 2014 to 2024, national budget allocations for R&D increased by 59.5% across the EU’s present members to an estimated €127,916 million, according to data from Eurostat. Year-on-year, this represen...

R&D is one of the fastest-growing areas in the EU budget, rising nearly 60% in a decade. With FP10 ahead, debate shifts to what comes next.
sciencebusiness.net/news/eu-budg...

science 🤝 policy

This is the tale of a little frog who could. That frog's name was Rosie the Ribeter. And she could jump over 2 metres. And the problem was, according to science, she shouldn't have. In a minor way, Rosie changed science. In a major way, she showed what science was about.

1/x

‘A disaster for all of us’: US scientists describe impact of Trump cuts President’s assault on science –particularly climate science – has led to unprecedented funding cuts and staff layoffs

Clinical trials stopped midway, fellowships, grants and studentships cancelled, grants cut are causing irreparable harms to progress of US science 🧪

Update: Commission official confirms:
ERC proposed budget - €31.5bn
MSCA - €10bn
EIC - €34.5bn

Budget cuts close UK body tackling antimicrobial resistance Move to close Fleming Fund also threatens standing as a reliable global partner

'The government is scrapping a programme that helps tackle antimicrobial resistance in the developing world because of cuts to the aid budget....The £265m Fleming Fund supports...surveillance of AMR in 25 countries across Africa and Asia...it emerged last week that the fund has been... shelved.'

British boasts of being a ‘science superpower’ are a bit of a cringe Not since that other phrase, ‘follow the science’, has there been so much unease that words that sound like they are backing science might be a trap for it

“British boasts of being a science superpower are a bit cringe”

“This week the Wellcome Trust asked Ministers to get some different Lego. ‘The UK needs to find a new way to project itself on the global stage,’ the science funder said”

From @whippletom.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Europe plans to double research spending in next Horizon Europe scheme Starting in 2028, the EU’s flagship research program will have a new focus on boosting European competitiveness

"A significant increase in ambition" - comments from me in Science on the proposals for the next Horizon Europe programme www.science.org/content/arti...

Illustration of a hand writing an article on paper in Research Europe's green logo colour

Next Horizon’s proposed budget boost is a milestone moment, though significant challenges remain. My leader on the Commission's €175bn plan for the R&I programme, for @resprofnews.bsky.social 's Research Europe edition this week (€)
www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

So far so good on Horizon budget and (most) rules - Research Professional News “Tight connection” with competitiveness fund remains weakest element, says Kurt Deketelaere

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

Mitochondrial donation: the IVF treatment giving families hope | News | Wellcome The first healthy babies born in the UK thanks to mitochondrial donation show what science can achieve when combined with advocacy and engagement to build trust.

Newly published research shows for the first time that eight healthy babies have been born in the UK following a pioneering IVF technique that reduces the risk of mitochondrial disease.

We’re proud to have supported this work from the beginning: wellcome.org/news/mitocho...

Babies from three people's DNA prevents heriditary disease The method was pioneered by UK scientists to overcome devastating, sometimes fatal inherited diseases.

Fantastic to see mitochondrial DNA donation working in practice www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

"If the level of ambition in the plan is matched by meaningful action and investment, the UK will be well on its way to securing its place as a global life sciences leader."

"The focus on speeding up trials and on data infrastructure for research will not only lead to real impact for patients but also strengthen the UK’s attractiveness to innovative researchers and businesses."

"The plan’s emphasis on the importance of early-stage research is particularly shrewd. Basic discovery science underpins later health breakthroughs and clinical trials, making it the essential bedrock for a thriving research economy."

Life Sciences Sector Plan to grow economy and transform NHS The government has today (Wednesday 16 July) launched a bold new Life Sciences Sector Plan as part of the government’s flagship Industrial Strategy.

UK Life Sciences Sector Plan published

John-Arne Røttingen:

"The ambition set out in the Life Sciences Sector Plan is hugely welcome. Life sciences are a historic strength of the UK, and this strategic vision is important to cement the country’s advantage in the future"
www.gov.uk/government/n...

Drop ‘science superpower’ slogan, Wellcome urges UK government Boris Johnson-era messaging about ‘UK greatness’ in science annoys and alienates potential research partners, says report from major funder

www.timeshighereducation.com/news/drop-sc...

Drop ‘science superpower’ slogan, Wellcome urges UK government Boris Johnson-era messaging about ‘UK greatness’ in science annoys and alienates potential research partners, says report from major funder

www.timeshighereducation.com/news/drop-sc...

Find out more and read our report bsky.app/profile/mart...

Strength in science can help the UK find its place in a changing world.

Wellcome has published a new report on how the UK can be the global partner of choice for R&D, and why investing in science supports diplomacy and security as well as economic growth.

Spain and Germany lead defence of an independent Pillar 2 in reformed Horizon Europe Nine EU research ministers have sent a letter to Ekaterina Zaharieva, the European commissioner responsible for research, backing an independent collaborative research pillar in the next Horizon Europ...

sciencebusiness.net/news/plannin...

15 July 2025 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session - Committees - UK Parliament 09:00 - Room 8, Palace of Westminster

The Commons Science Committee’s Science Diplomacy inquiry kicks off this morning, with Charlotte Watts giving evidence on behalf of Wellcome at 9.45.

Perfect timing for talking about our new report on the UK’s global role in research committees.parliament.uk/event/24850/...

A quote from Julia Gillard, Chair of Wellcome. The quote reads: "To govern is to choose. Research leadership, and crucially partnership, can help shape the UK's role in the world."

The world is changing fast, with new threats — and new opportunities.  
  
The UK Government faces a choice.  
  
Will it retreat from the global stage — or step up to help solve the world’s most pressing shared problems? [1/3] 🧵

Wellcome says that to be the partner of choice it should adopt a modern equitable approach to partnerships, and change the way it presents UK science to the world.

Strategically chosen scientific partnership, and support for bottom-up international collaboration, will make the most of UK strengths

R&D has a huge role to play in supporting the Government's 'soft power' agenda, and the UK should use its scientific strengths to support diplomacy, regulatory influence and health security.

There's also an opportunity to become the global partner of choice for R&D.

The Global Partner of Choice for R&D | Report | Wellcome This report outlines the importance of research and development (R&D) for the UK, emphasising its role in economic growth, global reputation and national security amidst changing geopolitical landscap...

NEW WELLCOME REPORT

R&D is a driver of domestic economic growth, but there's so much more that strength in science can do for the UK and the world.

Our report sets out a wider narrative for UK R&D, and why the UK needs to move on from 'science superpower'

wellcome.org/reports/uk-g...

• Discontinue the idea of introducing a levy on higher education provider income from international students. • Reduce visa costs to ensure they are at least as competitive in cost as other leading science nations, and preferably have a target to become the mos competitive in the G7. • Provide immediate clarity that the current time length for Indefinite Leave to Remain is kept in place for current and future Global Talent visa holders and their dependents.

We are calling on the UK Government to not introduce a levy on higher education provider income from international students, reduce visa costs to attract global talent, and to review higher education funding to create a sustainable model
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/documents/58...

I promise this wasn’t me

Commission draft proposal for FP10 leaked Horizon Europe’s Pillar 2 for collaborative research is set to be rebranded after 2028 and will be developed through a “steering mechanism” and a “competitiveness coordination tool” which will be deta...

sciencebusiness.net/news/plannin...