The report pointed to a survey which showed that per million pounds spent, British research was the most widely read and used among industrialised countries. The council expected more departments to win top ratings in the next research assessment exercise. We have said that our priority is to protect top rated units. Such a move would also be at the expense of the enormous strengths shown in the rest of the sector, as it would choke off essential seed corn funds for developing research groups, developing research areas and collaborative research endeavours. But a new capability development fund should be established to allow universities to start researching new areas.
Research grants are already heavily concentrated in universities.