A UK government minister says aerospace companies will have to pay more for UK university-based research in future.
After full economic cost rules were imposed on UK universities last October, academic institutions have re-evaluated the price of their research work, pushing it higher.
The Society of British Aerospace Companies has told the UK government about this issue, as major companies, including Airbus and Rolls-Royce, have been told to expect higher bills from their academic partners.
At the 14 June launch of the EADS Innovation Works UK research foundation, UK minister of state for industry and the regions Margaret Hodge told Flight that "it is very important that research does reflect its true costs and we want industry to pay its share of the cost of that investment. Government is increasing its investment."
UK based companies warn that they will move their research abroad if the costs are too high. Industry has proposed solutions such as an increased contribution to universities from the UK's research councils and/or the country's regional development agencies.
Asked how universities with higher costs will fare in a global aerospace research market Hodge said: "We have the best brains."
EADS Innovation Works UK is initially a €25 million ($33.4 million) investment by the European company that will see at least 120 new research jobs located across its UK facilities by 2011 and more collaboration with its existing university partners and their regional development agencies.
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Source: FlightGlobal.com