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POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IN SCOTLAND IN THE INDEPENDENCE DEBATE: a response to the

Scottish Science Advisory Council

Background
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE), Scotlands National Academy, welcomes the opportunity to respond to this request from the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC). The Council of the RSE, drawing on the input from its Fellows, is pleased to contribute the following open questions on behalf of the RSE Fellowship for consideration by the SSAC. The Scottish research base benefits significantly by attracting research funding from the various UK Research Councils and from major research charities, most notably, the Wellcome Trust. Scotland has about 8.5% of the UKs population but attracts, on a competitive basis, about 15% of the public and charitable research funding allocated throughout the UK. In this context, the current constitutional debate raises a range of questions and issues if Scotland became independent. As part of the series on Enlightening the Constitutional Debate, the RSE and British Academy will hold an open discussion meeting in Aberdeen in October 2013 on Science and Higher Education. This will examine many of the issues outlined below. iii. If these sources of research funding were no longer accessible to Scottish researchers, or only available on a much more restricted basis than at present, what alternative sources of comparable funding could be made available to researchers in Scotland? b Intellectual Standing To what extent would independence and, in particular, its financial consequences for research funding affect the ability of Scottish institutions to attract and retain outstanding researchers in a globally competitive market? c Collaboration across UK At present many Scottish technology companies benefit directly or indirectly from research funding generated by research linkages and programmes in other parts of the UK. What effect would independence have on such collaborative programmes? d Organisation of Research Funding How would research funding in an independent Scotland be organised, prioritised and allocated?

1 Relationship with Research Councils and Research Charities

a i. Funding Could there be an arrangement whereby the science and engineering base in Scotland could continue to access funding on a UK basis of the kind currently provided by the Research Councils?

2 Funding of universities
a b How would independence affect the funding of universities in Scotland? Assuming Scottish students would continue not to pay tuition fees, how would independence affect the ability to charge students from other parts of the UK who study at Scottish universities, and what would be the implications for the sustainability of university funding?

ii. On what basis would the science and engineering base in Scotland continue to access funding from the major research charities and trusts, given that most of them are English registered and operated charities? Would their present constitutions allow this?

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3 European and international dimensions

a As part of the UK, Scottish universities participate fully in EU Programmes and attract research support. What would be the future scenarios for participation in EU Programmes in an independent Scotland? Working with and through the British Council, Scottish universities attract substantial numbers of overseas students. How would independence affect the relationship between Scottish universities and the British Council? Science Attachs in UK Embassies provide information on international opportunities. How would such information/intelligence be made available to Scotland if it were to become independent?

Additional Information and References

This Advice Paper has been signed-off by the Council of the RSE. Any enquiries about this Advice Paper should be addressed to Mr William Hardie (Email: evidenceadvice@royalsoced.org.uk). Advice Papers are published on the RSE website (www.royalsoced.org.uk). Advice Paper (Royal Society of Edinburgh) ISSN 2040-2694

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is Scotlands National Academy. It is an independent body with a multidisciplinary fellowship of men and women of international standing which makes it uniquely placed to offer informed, independent comment on matters of national interest.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotlands National Academy, is Scottish Charity No. SC000470