Resources: The Inspiring Science Fund

The Inspiring Science Fund

The Inspiring Science Fund supports Science Centres across the UK. It's a capital fund that helps centres rethink what they do and what they offer to the public. The scheme is co-funded by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Wellcome. ASDC were instrumental in the creation of this fund.

Inspiring Science Fund Summary

BackgroundIn 2014 BEIS ran a Public Consultation on proposals for long term capital investment in science and research, specifically the allocation of £5. 9 billion of research capital funding between 2016…

Projects funded by The Inspiring Science Fund

Eleven major capital projects have been supported through the Inspiring Science Fund, first announced in September 2017.

ASDC's Proposal to Government to create an 'Inspiring Science Fund'

In 2014 BIS ran a Public Consultation on proposals for long term capital investment in science and research, specifically the allocation of £5.9 billion of research capital funding between 2016 and 2021.

BIS Consultation on Proposals for Long-Term Capital Investment in Science & Research (April 2014)

As a nation and as a global society we have some major challenges ahead, especially in relation to climate and energy.

The government response to the consultation

In December 2014, The Government published the outcome of this consultation. Delightfully, the Inspiring Science proposal is highlighted as having received high levels of support and BIS have announced that it will be funded to the tune of £20 million, dependent on the detail in the full business case.

The ASDC response to the BIS consultation on capital investment

This response is written on behalf of The Association for Science and Discovery Centres. The independent science and discovery centres and museums who are members of the ASDC network responded individually on behalf of their organisations.

"Our Plan for Growth: Science and Innovation" BIS Report

Alongside the "Creating the Future: A 2020 Vision for Science and Research" report, BIS also published "Our Plan for Growth: Science and Innovation". This is a wider report detailing the Long term strategy to make the UK the best place in the world for science and business.