Big scoop from @frances_jones00 Candidates shortlisted for next UKRI CEO before the election include current heads of Natural History Museum, UK Atomic Energy Authority, Royal Academy of Engineering Seems highly likely they are still in the running https://t.co/mgsqVNbMxQ

Ex-Amazon UK boss was on shortlist to be next UKRI chief exec - scoop on some of the contenders for UK research's top job from @frances_jones00 @ResProfNews. https://t.co/QE1qda0wLm

BREAKING: Fears budget squeeze may stop UKRI awarding new grants in 2025 - free to read https://t.co/ehe2mpW9bM

New: fears budget squeeze may leave UKRI unable to award new grants in 2025-26. Plus more info on why Horizon Europe costs are going up for Dsit next year. If it's late on a Friday, it must be time for some concerning budget revelations via @RobinBisson.

FT today cover concerns that Treasury wants to tuck in Horizon Europe costs to research budget, potentially delivering big effective cut for research. https://t.co/hiEbIJEjmY A story that @RobinBisson broke a week ago

Does it matter that the chair of the UK's research funding agency is also the chair of Shell? Some UKRI employees think so v strongly, as they told Andrew Mackenzie during a staff webinar, notes obtained by @ResProfNews via FOI show - by @frances_jones00.

Fears the Treasury is putting the squeeze on research budget by wanting to "tuck in" Horizon costs - making it even more crucial to put the economic/investment case for R&D spending. Views from @JohnWomersley @GraemeTR @racheljanetwolf @AndyWWestwood

Oh dear.

🚨Breaking: Budget brings fears of major research funding cut🚨 Flat-cash R&D settlement may have to cover £1 billion of extra costs under Treasury plan to "tuck" extra #HorizonEU money into overall funds. Free to read (if you can face it):

Fears about a potentially huge effective cut to research coming in Budget - from 'tucking in' up to £800m-£1bn of Horizon Europe costs. Important story by @RobinBisson, with a bit from me.

I’m pleased John has picked this up because it is the most extraordinary case and lessons need to be learnt for the future: OfS ‘threatened university with £164m fine for late accounts’ - Research Professional News

Office for Students accused of having "threatened" a university with £164m fine for filing accounts late - insights into the English regulator's dealings with Buckingham from @nickhillman (free to read)

"Badenoch provided no reference for her claims"

I used to drive between Cambridge and Leeds a lot: getting onto the M62 at Ferrybridge, the old power station there - steam and shadow drifting across the huge concrete cooling towers - was symbolic of arriving in a different kind of place.

James Graham has a good point about importance of preserving industrial heritage: examples in Germany, US of turning old industrial sites into arts, culture, tourist destinations that now do a lot for former industrial heartlands in economic/social terms.

Here’s my take on the excellent and wide-ranging new Blueprint from Universities UK, out this morning. (On fees / funding, I say it is ‘arguably a little too timid on fees and a little too trusting on the teaching grant’.)

@UniversitiesUK @ResProfNews @ChrisJParr @viviennestern @HarrietSwain @nickhillman 5. A rundown of all the UUK blueprint recommendations

@UniversitiesUK @ResProfNews @ChrisJParr @viviennestern @HarrietSwain 4. @nickhillman gives his take on the blueprint: UUK has been a little too timid on fees and funding, he argues (free to read)

@UniversitiesUK @ResProfNews @ChrisJParr @viviennestern 3. A look at the blueprint's R&D chapter, led Peter Mandelson, and its call to create a Missions Innovation Fund to align with Labour govt priorities and increase QR funding, by @HarrietSwain

@UniversitiesUK @ResProfNews @ChrisJParr 2. Interview with @viviennestern in which she explains why UUK took the blueprint approach: trying to spotlight universities as "engines of economic growth", rather than approaching govt with "begging bowl"