Scotland’s scientific research community is “more effective, stable and sustainable” as part of the UK, according to an analysis paper on independence.
The sector benefits from the best of both worlds under devolution, the UK Government has said.
Science and research has flourished with access to the combined funding, ideas and expertise of an “integrated and inter-dependent” community, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills claims.
At the same time the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government can take policy decisions to further encourage research north of the border, it states.
The paper, to be launched in Edinburgh, argues research collaboration between the UK and an independent Scotland would not be comparable.
An extract released by the UK Government states: “In the event of a vote in favour of independence, relationships between the continuing UK and an independent Scottish state would become international relationships.
“While there are examples of international research cooperation, these typically involve encouraging voluntary coordination of research programmes and limited joint funding initiatives as well as collaborations on specific projects and are not a replacement for national approaches.”
The paper draws on the example of NordForsk, an organisation that provides funding for Nordic research cooperation under the Nordic Council of Ministers.
“It was established in 2005 and provides modest funding for cooperation within all fields of research, amounting to 117 million Krona around £13 million in 2011 small compared with the £307 million secured by Scottish institutions alone from UK-wide Research Councils in 2012-2013,” it states.
Scottish institutions received 10.7% of all research grant funding from UK Research Councils in 2012-13 despite a UK population share of 8.4%, the paper highlights, while the UK is ranked second only to the US in terms of world-class research.
Researchers in Scotland benefit from access to world-leading shared infrastructure and international facilities such as the European Centre for Nuclear Research (Cern) and the European Southern Observatory (Eso), the paper argues.
“Shared infrastructure allows for sharing of costs (improving efficiencies), expertise and larger scale investments than are possible through single funding streams,” it states.
“In addition the interaction between experts at shared facilities, frequently across a range of disciplines, leads to greater research quality beyond any cost savings generated.”
The Scottish Government dismissed the paper’s claims as “nonsense”.
A spokesman for Education Secretary Mike Russell said: “This paper is simply the latest instalment of the UK Government’s campaign against a Yes vote next year, and its assertions must be seen in that light.
“Helpfully, however, the paper highlights the world-class research and standing of Scotland’s universities and it is precisely that global excellence which mean that in an independent Scotland the sector will continue to attract valuable investment, research funding and students from around the globe.
“Scotland has an unrivalled record of success in attracting research funding, reflecting the excellence and global reputation of our universities, and that it is, frankly, nonsense to suggest that will not continue with independence.
“Scotland has more world class universities per head of population than any other country. Meanwhile a number of our universities have risen up the international ranking this year – showing the strength of the sector. Our commitment to support our universities and to recognise the full impact of their research is widely acknowledged by the sector.”