Coronavirus (COVID-19)—government announces support packages to protect UK research jobs

Article summary

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has announced the release of two support packages to help researchers, scientist and technicians working at UK universities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. The research funding scheme will launch in autumn 2020 and will help research-active universities across the UK to access long term, low interest loans and cover up to 80% of university’s income losses caused by a decline in international students. Around £200m in the new investment will be readily available to support researchers salaries, research costs such as equipment and fieldwork and existing research. In addition, the UK Research & Innovation will reallocate up to £80m of existing funding to further support research and development in UK universities. It is hoped that the support packages will ensure UK universities facing financial difficulties with job security to researchers and support research projects such as research into antibiotics resistance and the effects of...