Studies of the socio-economic impact of large research facilities
-
Following scientific considerations, the economic benefits and return from public investment in large research facilities is a recognised consideration in the decision making process to host them. The wider socio-economic impact of large research facilities has been the subject of many reviews and wide consideration in the UK and elsewhere. While the remit for this current review does not include undertaking a socio-economic study of the impact of hosting a major international science facility, the key reports that have been undertaken since the last major UK assessment of impact conducted by the Cabinet Office, Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) and Office of Public Service and Science in 1993 are detailed in the appendices. A short précis of the key findings of each of these reports is presented in the Consultation Process appendix.
-
There is general consensus in the findings of these reports for which their key conclusions are:
-
there is significant socio-economic benefit from hosting large international research facilities;
-
the rate of return is uniformly regarded as positive although its calculation is subject to assumption and quantification challenges;
-
the benefits can be categorised as:
-
Direct – through the design, construction and operation of the facility. Such impact, relatively easily quantified, is short to medium term in nature – at least for the 20-30 year life of a facility – and is primarily localised.
-
Indirect – through the creation of campuses surrounding a facility – by definition localised – clustering high technology users/exploiters of a facility’s capabilities, through spin-close, spin-in and spin-out enterprises. The impact of the campus is harder to quantify and extends beyond the actual lifetime of a facility;
-
Global – the diffuse and very long term impact that arises from the establishment of a global hub in the knowledge economy. The impact of such a focus extends from the influence of national attitudes to and exploitation of science and innovation, and the establishment of global contact networks – to national prestige, credibility and influence.
-
It would be timely to perform a further detailed review of the benefits of hosting large international facilities following that undertaken by The Treasury in 1993. There are a number of interested bodies who should be invited to come together to develop the study and oversee its implementation – including The Treasury, the Department of Trade and Industry, the OSI, relevant Research Councils (including Science and Technology Facilities COuncil, NERC, and ESRC) and appropriate regional authorities and others.
It would be timely to perform a further detailed review of the benefits of hosting large international facilities following that undertaken by The Treasury in 1993