MONEY for research is pouring into British universities from Brussels, according to official figures published last week. The figures show that in 1993/4, the universities won European research contracts worth 拢97 million, a massive increase of 27 per cent on the previous year, and of 154 per cent compared with 1989/90.
Research income from industry in 1993/4 was up by 拢9 million (7 per cent). Contracts from charities brought in 拢290 million, 18 per cent more than the previous year.
The Universities鈥� Statistical Record also shows that universities are raiding the Science Budget, winning grants and contracts from research councils worth 拢433 million in 1993/4, compared with 拢382 million a year earlier.
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A spokesman for the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals warned the government not to use the good news as an excuse to cut research money allocated to universities through higher education funding councils. 鈥淭he state has responsibilities to the science base that cannot be supplanted by other sources of income,鈥� he says.