X Close

Heritage Science and Engineering Network Blog

Home

Presenting the latest research and ideas in Heritage Science and Engineering

Menu

The Future of Heritage Funding

By Charlene A Murphy, on 3 June 2020

UK coins

Although we live somewhat uncertain times there are hopeful signs for the future funding of research in heritage science and engineering.Despite the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, there are growing funding opportunities for heritage science nationally. For example, heritage is listed as a priority in the recently published UKRI Research Infrastructure Roadmap “Opportunities to Grow Our Capability”. UKRI has recently announced a £19 million Digital Heritage/Museum Programme and the British Council has received £8 million to build on the long-term sustainability and impact of existing Cultural Protection Fund projects.

One of the founding ideas behind the establishment of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) was to bridge disciplinary silos and more seamlessly support research in disciplines – like heritage science and engineering – that span the remit of two or more Councils. UKRI funding programmes, like the Future Leaders Fellowships scheme, are open to researchers from all subject areas, from anthropology to zoology.Research Council budgets are also growing, but new funding is being focussed in the new UKRI “Collective Funds” – including the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund (ISCF), Strategic Priorities Fund, and Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) – rather than handed out to individual Councils.

The Research Councils now need to work together to develop business cases to Government for new Collective Fund programmes. They have also established formal boards and calls to help prioritise and develop ideas put forward by the community. This is as good a time as ever to be advocating – together with our partners – for new funding for heritage science.And there are plenty of good arguments to use.

With the growing threat of political upheaval, climate change and natural disasters posing major risks to cultural heritage – both within the UK and worldwide – the growth of this sector is considerable. Funding, educational and training opportunities are already expanding rapidly to attempt to keep pace with increasing concerns both domestically and internationally.Heritage is also now recognized as having increasingly important tangible economic and intangible societal benefits. There is no denying that the historic environment has a close connection to economic activity in the UK. Historic England’s April 2019 report Heritage and the Economy 2019 noted that the heritage sector is an important economic sector producing a total GVA of £31 billion and providing over 464,000 jobs in the UK.

If you have ideas for how to champion research in heritage science & engineering, we would love to hear from you. Blog Post by Dr Charlene Murphy & Dr Matt Davis.