The government’s proposed budget looks to promote globalisation by doubling funding for public research
In an ambitious effort to keep Denmark at the top of the globalisation wave, the government’s 2008 budget plan has set aside DKK 4 billion (€537 million) for research and development at the country’s public facilities.
The plan, announced Tuesday, doubles R&D funding from 2007 and has set a goal of a full 1 percent of GNP to be used in the field by 2010. The funding comes after last year’s broad political agreement to create a globalisation strategy.
In Wales:
Dr Huggins said the Assembly Government should establish research laboratories, such as a national biotechnology centre and a national food technology centre (public research).
“The spin-out effect from these public sector laboratories is immense. Huge science parks grow up around them elsewhere,” said Mr Huggins.
“Wales has a real paucity of high value-added business, which is the problem with the nation’s economy. This issue does need radical thinking.”
He added, “Wales has no such research infrastructure, with many of the UK’s public research institutes based in the southern regions of the UK which, by no coincidence, are also the most economically competitive.
These UK public research institutions based outside of Wales are funded with Welsh taxpayers money. Better for the Welsh economy that that money is spent on public research in Wales on a program set by a Welsh Government responsible to the Welsh people. The British have failed to produce adequate levels of R&D in Wales.