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Martin Smith

@martinrsmith.bsky.social

840 followers 250 following 210 posts

Head of Policy Lab, Wellcome. Science policy things, puns, cats

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Political science 83%

Education 4%

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · Jul 14

NEW WELLCOME REPORT

R&D is a driver of domestic economic growth, but there's so much more that strength in science can do for the UK and the world.

Our report sets out a wider narrative for UK R&D, and why the UK needs to move on from 'science superpower'

wellcome.org/reports/uk-g...

The Global Partner of Choice for R&D | Report | Wellcome

This report outlines the importance of research and development (R&D) for the UK, emphasising its role in economic growth, global reputation and national security amidst changing geopolitical landscap...

wellcome.org

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3d

'The research found that “from antibiotics to the internet, global researchers helped Britain innovate – let’s do it again” was the most effective statement among respondents.'

Important work. A significant part of addressing the UK university polycrisis entails getting the narrative right. 2/2

We can tell a better story about immigration and R&D - CaSE

Recent work by CaSE shows how supportive voices can talk about immigration for the UK R&D sector in a way that resonates with the public.

www.sciencecampaign.org.uk

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3d

'The survey of 2,079 UK adults, carried out by the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), finds that overall voters were often supportive of academics being allowed in to the UK, but noted that the messaging surrounding policies could significantly impact how voters perceived them.' 1/2

Focus on ‘national pride’ builds support for skilled immigration

Voters more likely to support pro-immigration messages for the R&D sector when they are ‘inspiring’ and don’t paint the UK as ‘passive’

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 3d

“In the recent DSIT survey of the UK Research & Development workforce, only 52 per cent of higher education respondents said the culture of their organisation enabled them to perform their best work, compared to 85 per cent in the private sector.”

Elizabeth Gadd @lizziegadd.bsky.social · 3d

Adding my voice to the chorus battling to retain an increased focus on people, culture, and environment in the next REF... wonkhe.com/blogs/the-ba...

The battle for people, culture and environment

Lizzie Gadd makes the case for embracing People, Culture and Environment and sets out why reverting to REF 2021 would be a mistake

wonkhe.com

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Reposted by Rebecca Sear, Martin J. Smith

Elizabeth Gadd @lizziegadd.bsky.social · 3d

Adding my voice to the chorus battling to retain an increased focus on people, culture, and environment in the next REF... wonkhe.com/blogs/the-ba...

The battle for people, culture and environment

Lizzie Gadd makes the case for embracing People, Culture and Environment and sets out why reverting to REF 2021 would be a mistake

wonkhe.com

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 8d

Government promises to double key visa routes for researchers.

Expansion will boost intake of ‘talented scientists’ from next year, Treasury says.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Government promises to double key visa routes for researchers - Research Professional News

Expansion will boost intake of ‘talented scientists’ from next year, Treasury says

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 9d

“A rollback of PCE risks stalling momentum on essential efforts toward research culture change”

blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...

The People Culture and Environment element of REF2029 is already changing the sector, we shouldn’t give up on it now - Impact of Social Sciences

The future of the People Culture and Environment element of REF 2029 is currently under scrutiny. Drawing on interviews with institutional decisionmakers as part of the COMET study, Gemma Derrick, Amy...

blogs.lse.ac.uk

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 9d

“The levy is a terrible policy that will damage universities at a time when they are already facing financial challenges”

Russell Group pulling no punches here

www.russellgroup.ac.uk/news/respons...

Response to government announcement on maintenance grants | Russell Group

The Russell Group responds to news that the government will reintroduce maintenance grants for certain courses, funded by a levy on international student fees

www.russellgroup.ac.uk

Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Times Higher Education (THE) @timeshighered.bsky.social · 14d

The #REF has been postponed for three months ‘to take stock and ensure alignment with the UK government’s priorities and vision for higher education’. But how radical should the changes be? Should there be any at all? Is it time to start again? www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/where-...

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 15d

“Sustainable research excellence depends on the people who make it happen. Environments that support career development, recognise diverse contributions, and foster inclusion don’t just feel better to work in – they produce better research”

Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 15d

NEW on Wonkhe: Yolana Pringle and Ben Tatler make the case that the REF pause should be the moment to build on the most substantial sector-wide collaboration ever undertaken on research environments buff.ly/B53PxLd

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Wonkhe @wonkhe.bsky.social · 15d

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 15d

A strong statement from The Sainsbury Laboratory on what this all adds up to

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 15d

Some fascinating details below the surface - university/insitute attempts to offer interest free loans to help researchers cover upfront visa costs and up being stymied (two different case studies in screenshots)

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 15d

Incredibly timely work from CaSE - a set of case studies that illustrate the problems researchers face with the immigration system

CaSE @sciencecampaign.bsky.social · 16d

By speaking to professionals who handle visa and immigration issues at UK research institutions, CaSE has compiled a catalogue of case studies that demonstrate the significant barriers presented by the current system

Read the briefing⬇️⬇️
www.sciencecampaign.org.uk/analysis-and...

Barriers in the visa system for UK R&D organisations - CaSE

In this briefing CaSE has collated insights from 15 research organisations demonstrating the barriers they face in the UK visa system.

www.sciencecampaign.org.uk

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 16d

Ed Davey pledges to bring US cancer researchers to the UK

Research groups welcome Lib Dem proposals to lower visa costs for scientists hit by Trump cuts

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Ed Davey pledges to bring US cancer researchers to the UK - Research Professional News

Lib Dem proposals to lower visa costs for scientists hit by Trump cuts welcomed

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

CaSE @sciencecampaign.bsky.social · 16d

Barriers in the visa system for UK R&D organisations - CaSE

In this briefing CaSE has collated insights from 15 research organisations demonstrating the barriers they face in the UK visa system.

www.sciencecampaign.org.uk

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 16d

I don’t think this should be a surprise, because (a) the # of prizewinners is small, and (b) I’d guess that almost all of them would be eligible for other Global Talent routes too.

The focus on prizewinners is a politically easy thing to sell but misses the ‘team science’ & high potential ECRs

John Whitfield @johnwhitfield.bsky.social · 16d

Your reminder that the UK's fast-track visa for prize-winning researchers received zero applications. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Reposted by Martin Paul Eve, Martin J. Smith

John Whitfield @johnwhitfield.bsky.social · 16d

Your reminder that the UK's fast-track visa for prize-winning researchers received zero applications. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Association of Medical Research Charities @amrc-uk.bsky.social · 22d

New Frontier Economics report, commissioned by AMRC and @wellcometrust.bsky.social, showcases the extensive benefits of non-commercial clinical research. It reveals the ‘triple dividend’ this research brings to the UK: unlocking growth, supporting the NHS and improving lives. bit.ly/3KrW7nf

Health and growth: How non-commerical clinical research benefits the UK. www.amrc.org.uk/HealthAndGrowth25 A report for the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and Wellcome, by Frontier Economics

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · 22d

“Job security and support are fundamental to excellence, not luxuries or distractions” - a reminder of what’s a stake in discussions of how to drive improvements in research culture

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

Weakening the REF’s focus on culture would harm UK research - Research Professional News

Job security and support are fundamental to excellence, not luxuries or distractions, says Ashley Theunissen

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Martin J. Smith, Markus W. Gehring

Bennett School of Public Policy, University of Cambridge @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk · 23d

We're recruiting! We're seeking an early-career policy or research professional to support policy response & knowledge transfer activities & to enhance our capacity to respond quickly & effectively to opportunities for policy engagement & impact.

👉🏽 www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/about-us/vac...

Research Assistant/Associate - Bennett School of Public Policy

Department/Location: Department of Public Policy (Bennett School of Public Policy)Salary: £33,002-£46,049Reference: JB47263Category: ResearchDate published: 12 September 2025Closing date: 10 October 2...

www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith, Margot C. Finn

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 29d

Calls to protect QR grow ahead of crunch budget decisions.

Spending limits and high inflation weaken prospect of real-terms rise for university research funds.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

Calls to protect QR grow ahead of crunch budget decisions - Research Professional News

Spending limits and high inflation weaken prospect of real-terms rise for university research funds

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · Sep 10

Shower thoughts: is the Treasury ministers WhatsApp group called ‘Chat GDP’. And if not, what can I do to bring this about.

Reposted by Dave O’Brien, Stephanie Pitts, Martin J. Smith , and 2 more Dave O’Brien, Stephanie Pitts, Martin J. Smith, Melanie Simms, Stuart J. Turnbull‐Dugarte

Hannah White @drhannahwhite.bsky.social · Sep 10

I am delighted to announce that we are recruiting to three new roles in the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk’s senior team.

Take a look if you want to help us grow our impact & develop our brilliant research (details of the Academy Director role will be up next week) 👇 micro.green-park.co.uk/ifg/

Institute for Government

micro.green-park.co.uk

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Sep 9

“I strongly encourage all universities to participate in this important pilot as it will provide invaluable insights across the whole range of institutions we fund into how our transparency programme should be implemented for future years.” (Jessica Corner, Research England)

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Sep 9

Research England aims to ‘strengthen case’ for QR in pilot.

Universities urged to join exercise showing government value of strategic institutional research funding.

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Research England aims to ‘strengthen case’ for QR in pilot - Research Professional News

Universities urged to join exercise showing government value of strategic institutional research funding

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Reposted by Martin Paul Eve, Charles West, Martin J. Smith

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Sep 9

'Universities will be asked to explain how they spend millions of pounds received in quality-related (QR) funding from the Research Excellence Framework as part of a pilot study designed to provide greater transparency on institutional spending.' 1/2

Explain how REF money is spent, universities told

Research England hopes transparency pilot could lead to more accountability but critics fear bureaucracy and government control

www.timeshighereducation.com

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Sep 8

The mooted specialisation: 'you would need deep policy focus, deeper pockets, and the metaphorical political hide of a rhinoceros to pull something like that off, not least because it goes strongly against the grain of the sector and would probably cause some institutions to fall over'. 2/3

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Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Sep 8

'Notwithstanding central government’s aversion to even nudging towards what it might want students to study in anything approaching a plan, having fewer universities doing less things each only works if you maintain – or even increase – the proportion of students prepared to study away from home.'

Bridget, Liz and Steve need to go for a coffee

Who knows if it matters now that he’s off to be Business Secretary in the reshuffle.

wonkhe.com

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Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · Sep 5

wellcome.org/news/wellcom...

Screenshot of John Arne quote available from link in tweet

Martin Smith @martinrsmith.bsky.social · Sep 3

Great spot, thanks!

Reposted by Martin J. Smith

Dominic Manchee @dpmanchee.bsky.social · Sep 3

UK Science Minister Lord Vallance said:

"I want the UK to be the partner of choice, to everyone involved in the programme"

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