This paper is the eighth in the ‘Scotland Analysis’ collection. It discusses the closely integrated and thriving research base between Scotland and the rest of the UK. The research base is important to the UK’s, including Scotland’s, innovation and economic success. The paper investigates the consequences of Scottish independence for the UK research environment, including publicly funded institutions.
Key findings in the report include
- the UK benefits from an integrated, interdependent research environment. Scotland is a success within this environment, with high quality research and higher education institutes, including 5 of the top 200 universities in the World
- a significant amount of the funding Scotland receives comes from UK wide public and private sources, and in an independent Scottish state the destination of much of this funding may be determined by decisions taken outside of Scotland
- Scotland also benefits from the UK’s common framework and scale of its research base. Collaboration between UK researchers and institutions is easier, compared to undertaking projects with international partners. Diverging processes and priorities in an independent Scottish state may make partnerships with researchers in the continuing UK less viable or attractive.
