Ben Johnson
@ersatzben.com
Professor of practice in research and innovation policy. Former UK govt adviser on science and tech policy. LFC. Max/MSP. Personal views.
I've written about the UKRI funding situation and the 'buckets' explainer, looking in detail at QR, STFC and Quantum. www.ersatzben.com/p/the-bucket...
The Bucket Stops Here
UKRI’s new funding framework takes a stab at classifying budgets – but doesn’t yet govern research
www.ersatzben.com
February 14, 2026 at 6:41 PM
I've written about the UKRI funding situation and the 'buckets' explainer, looking in detail at QR, STFC and Quantum. www.ersatzben.com/p/the-bucket...
This is one of the absolute best things I’ve read on the potential impacts of AI on society and democracy. Forensic, principled, and sober. Bravo, @williamcb.bsky.social!!
People say AI will be the end of democracy. Will it? A reasoned answer here from me today.
AI and the destruction of democracy
Can we, should we, tame the beast?
open.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:10 AM
This is one of the absolute best things I’ve read on the potential impacts of AI on society and democracy. Forensic, principled, and sober. Bravo, @williamcb.bsky.social!!
Looking again at the UKRI funding 'buckets', I find it weird that QR has been put into 'Bucket 1' (curiosity-driven research), given that it supports a range of activity across all buckets, and REF does not only measure 'curiosity'.
February 6, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Looking again at the UKRI funding 'buckets', I find it weird that QR has been put into 'Bucket 1' (curiosity-driven research), given that it supports a range of activity across all buckets, and REF does not only measure 'curiosity'.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Quick science policy thread 1
Changes in the governance of UK science since the mid 1980s make it extremely hard to be strategic (that was the point), in terms of both process (dropped) and capability (hollowed out).
Changes in the governance of UK science since the mid 1980s make it extremely hard to be strategic (that was the point), in terms of both process (dropped) and capability (hollowed out).
February 1, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Quick science policy thread 1
Changes in the governance of UK science since the mid 1980s make it extremely hard to be strategic (that was the point), in terms of both process (dropped) and capability (hollowed out).
Changes in the governance of UK science since the mid 1980s make it extremely hard to be strategic (that was the point), in terms of both process (dropped) and capability (hollowed out).
This is a very good letter.
Today, we're sharing an open letter from our Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, outlining changes to UKRI investment approach, and addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC. Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community
UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.
www.ukri.org
February 1, 2026 at 7:31 PM
This is a very good letter.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
A little highlight of the new year for me is @igmansfield.bsky.social's forecasting contest. You can enter here, until 18 January!
www.edrith.co.uk/p/2026-forec...
www.edrith.co.uk/p/2026-forec...
2026 Forecasting Contest
A forecasting contest for 2026, featuring UK politics and global events.
www.edrith.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 8:56 AM
A little highlight of the new year for me is @igmansfield.bsky.social's forecasting contest. You can enter here, until 18 January!
www.edrith.co.uk/p/2026-forec...
www.edrith.co.uk/p/2026-forec...
My unpopular opinion: Erasmus+ is an elitist waste of money that only benefits young adults that have already “won” by (a) making it to university, and (b) having the plummy, ski-seasoned social capital to have heard of the scheme in the first place.
December 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM
My unpopular opinion: Erasmus+ is an elitist waste of money that only benefits young adults that have already “won” by (a) making it to university, and (b) having the plummy, ski-seasoned social capital to have heard of the scheme in the first place.
The government has talked about organising R&D into three 'buckets' - discovery research, research aligned to government priorities, and business support. This is a good idea that could fail in the implementation. Here are my 10 tests for success:
www.ersatzben.com/p/the-three-...
www.ersatzben.com/p/the-three-...
The three-bucket problem
Ten tests for the UK’s new R&D funding framework
www.ersatzben.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
The government has talked about organising R&D into three 'buckets' - discovery research, research aligned to government priorities, and business support. This is a good idea that could fail in the implementation. Here are my 10 tests for success:
www.ersatzben.com/p/the-three-...
www.ersatzben.com/p/the-three-...
I’ll do a detailed Substack take on the DSIT R&D allocations soon — but, on the surface read, it looks like positive news on funding levels and prioritisation. Outstanding Qs: intra-UKRI allocs (esp Dual Support); OLS-IS vfm; ARIA ramp-up readiness; AI implementation pathway
October 30, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I’ll do a detailed Substack take on the DSIT R&D allocations soon — but, on the surface read, it looks like positive news on funding levels and prioritisation. Outstanding Qs: intra-UKRI allocs (esp Dual Support); OLS-IS vfm; ARIA ramp-up readiness; AI implementation pathway
Some quick thoughts on the UK post-16 white paper's implications for research: www.ersatzben.com/p/uk-post-16...
UK Post-16 White Paper – implications for research
Some quick thoughts.
www.ersatzben.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Some quick thoughts on the UK post-16 white paper's implications for research: www.ersatzben.com/p/uk-post-16...
Delighted to be a winner in the latest round of Emergent Ventures! marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
I will be pursuing R&D data analytics for policy, building on the work I've been doing on interdisciplinary metrics.
I will be pursuing R&D data analytics for policy, building on the work I've been doing on interdisciplinary metrics.
Emergent Ventures winners, 46th cohort - Marginal REVOLUTION
William Wu, NoVa, piano, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. Olga Niekrasova, Kyiv, animated film. Anhelina Leshak, Ukraine/GWU, general career support. Myles Fritts, Florida, fish and genetics. Luzia Bruckam...
marginalrevolution.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Delighted to be a winner in the latest round of Emergent Ventures! marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevo...
I will be pursuing R&D data analytics for policy, building on the work I've been doing on interdisciplinary metrics.
I will be pursuing R&D data analytics for policy, building on the work I've been doing on interdisciplinary metrics.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
@ersatzben.bsky.social asks for #Science policy not to weaken standards, but rather to rediscover a form of democratic splendour: demonstration statecraft that inspires awe by visibly delivering on ambitious goals.
British research has perfected discipline and outsourced magnificence. The fix is to practise demonstration statecraft – visible proofs of capacity that pair theatre with delivery.
A new essay by me for the Better Science Project:
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
A new essay by me for the Better Science Project:
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
The Counter-Reformation of science: how to make magnificence democratic
British research has perfected discipline and outsourced magnificence. The fix is to practise demonstration statecraft – visible proofs of capacity that pair theatre with delivery.
betterscienceproject.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM
@ersatzben.bsky.social asks for #Science policy not to weaken standards, but rather to rediscover a form of democratic splendour: demonstration statecraft that inspires awe by visibly delivering on ambitious goals.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
A great piece from @ersatzben.bsky.social on the importance of bold, aesthetic, mission-oriented directions in publicly funded research.
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
The Counter-Reformation of science: how to make magnificence democratic
British research has perfected discipline and outsourced magnificence. The fix is to practise demonstration statecraft – visible proofs of capacity that pair theatre with delivery.
betterscienceproject.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:46 PM
A great piece from @ersatzben.bsky.social on the importance of bold, aesthetic, mission-oriented directions in publicly funded research.
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
British research has perfected discipline and outsourced magnificence. The fix is to practise demonstration statecraft – visible proofs of capacity that pair theatre with delivery.
A new essay by me for the Better Science Project:
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
A new essay by me for the Better Science Project:
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
The Counter-Reformation of science: how to make magnificence democratic
British research has perfected discipline and outsourced magnificence. The fix is to practise demonstration statecraft – visible proofs of capacity that pair theatre with delivery.
betterscienceproject.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 9:51 AM
British research has perfected discipline and outsourced magnificence. The fix is to practise demonstration statecraft – visible proofs of capacity that pair theatre with delivery.
A new essay by me for the Better Science Project:
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
A new essay by me for the Better Science Project:
betterscienceproject.substack.com/p/the-counte...
Reposted by Ben Johnson
What if – hear me out – some people just sincerely think digital ID would be a good idea for public policy and that the trade-off with civil liberties is worth taking, and a weird quasi-conspiracy isn't required?
August 3, 2025 at 9:53 AM
What if – hear me out – some people just sincerely think digital ID would be a good idea for public policy and that the trade-off with civil liberties is worth taking, and a weird quasi-conspiracy isn't required?
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Do feed into this very interesting project looking at the different available R&D interventions
🚨🔧 NEW R&D POLICY TOOLKIT LAUNCHED 🚨
Excited to launch a new @BritishProgress product: an interactive toolkit for UK R&D analysts and policymakers!
🔗 rd-toolkit.britishprogress.org
Thread below🧵
Excited to launch a new @BritishProgress product: an interactive toolkit for UK R&D analysts and policymakers!
🔗 rd-toolkit.britishprogress.org
Thread below🧵
UK R&D Policy Toolkit
rd-toolkit.britishprogress.org
July 31, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Do feed into this very interesting project looking at the different available R&D interventions
🚨🔧 NEW R&D POLICY TOOLKIT LAUNCHED 🚨
Excited to launch a new @BritishProgress product: an interactive toolkit for UK R&D analysts and policymakers!
🔗 rd-toolkit.britishprogress.org
Thread below🧵
Excited to launch a new @BritishProgress product: an interactive toolkit for UK R&D analysts and policymakers!
🔗 rd-toolkit.britishprogress.org
Thread below🧵
UK R&D Policy Toolkit
rd-toolkit.britishprogress.org
July 31, 2025 at 11:00 AM
🚨🔧 NEW R&D POLICY TOOLKIT LAUNCHED 🚨
Excited to launch a new @BritishProgress product: an interactive toolkit for UK R&D analysts and policymakers!
🔗 rd-toolkit.britishprogress.org
Thread below🧵
Excited to launch a new @BritishProgress product: an interactive toolkit for UK R&D analysts and policymakers!
🔗 rd-toolkit.britishprogress.org
Thread below🧵
🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨
The Alan Turing Institute has visibly struggled, and is now at a critical juncture. The Secretary of State has intervened. What happens next?
A new report for @britishprogress.bsky.social by me and @jujulemons.bsky.social sets out a plan: 🧵
The Alan Turing Institute has visibly struggled, and is now at a critical juncture. The Secretary of State has intervened. What happens next?
A new report for @britishprogress.bsky.social by me and @jujulemons.bsky.social sets out a plan: 🧵
July 21, 2025 at 11:01 AM
🚨 NEW REPORT 🚨
The Alan Turing Institute has visibly struggled, and is now at a critical juncture. The Secretary of State has intervened. What happens next?
A new report for @britishprogress.bsky.social by me and @jujulemons.bsky.social sets out a plan: 🧵
The Alan Turing Institute has visibly struggled, and is now at a critical juncture. The Secretary of State has intervened. What happens next?
A new report for @britishprogress.bsky.social by me and @jujulemons.bsky.social sets out a plan: 🧵
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Open Philanthropy have been a terrific partner in the work of the UK Metascience Unit. Two things I’d mention in particular: (a) the very high quality of the metascience work OP do on their own account (eg Matt Clancy’s thoughtful articles)…
Meanwhile, Open Philanthropy www.openphilanthropy.org, founded by Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz and with a history of supporting effective altruism, is a co-funder of the UKRI metascience programme www.ukri.org/opportunity/...
Home | Open Philanthropy
Open Philanthropy's mission is to give as effectively as we can and share our findings so that anyone can build on our work.
www.openphilanthropy.org
July 16, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Open Philanthropy have been a terrific partner in the work of the UK Metascience Unit. Two things I’d mention in particular: (a) the very high quality of the metascience work OP do on their own account (eg Matt Clancy’s thoughtful articles)…
This is a really interesting piece that cleverly picks apart the notion of critical technologies, and proposes a framework for A&H research that extends the concept in a way that DSIT ought to find very challenging.
An argument that #arts and #humanities need to reclaim their role as the critical technologies of our time by working alongside science.
anatomiesofpower.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/c...
anatomiesofpower.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/c...
Critical technologies
Science policy is dominated by the notion of critical technologies. Have we defined this notion correctly? What are the critical technologies we need for a prosperous future? Naming of Parts Both t…
anatomiesofpower.wordpress.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
This is a really interesting piece that cleverly picks apart the notion of critical technologies, and proposes a framework for A&H research that extends the concept in a way that DSIT ought to find very challenging.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
This is an interesting idea from @ersatzben.bsky.social and well worth a read. It also flags up the importance of QR/REG in supporting interdisciplinary research. Something many of us have been trying to articulate in discussions on QR/REG changes for a while, so good to have some actual data on it.
@ersatzben.bsky.social with a super interesting and challenging piece on #interdisciplinary #research. This will demand and repay a lot of careful reading. I have thoughts... but it's a fantastically interesting challenge to us as researchers and as funders!!
What counts as interdisciplinary research? And can we tell who is actually funding it, versus just talking about it? A data-driven deep-dive from me here: open.substack.com/pub/johnsonb...
July 10, 2025 at 8:10 AM
This is an interesting idea from @ersatzben.bsky.social and well worth a read. It also flags up the importance of QR/REG in supporting interdisciplinary research. Something many of us have been trying to articulate in discussions on QR/REG changes for a while, so good to have some actual data on it.
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Extremely interesting work by @ersatzben.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/johnsonb...
What Actually Counts as Interdisciplinary Research?
A data-driven look at which funders support knowledge integration
open.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Extremely interesting work by @ersatzben.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/johnsonb...
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Interesting analysis from @ersatzben.bsky.social on what makes good interdisciplinary research. UKRI doesn’t come out well. ‘Despite integration within single UKRI umbrella, UK government funding seems to remain unusually focussed on silos of activity….’ johnsonb.substack.com/p/what-actua...
What Actually Counts as Interdisciplinary Research?
A data-driven look at which funders support knowledge integration
johnsonb.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Interesting analysis from @ersatzben.bsky.social on what makes good interdisciplinary research. UKRI doesn’t come out well. ‘Despite integration within single UKRI umbrella, UK government funding seems to remain unusually focussed on silos of activity….’ johnsonb.substack.com/p/what-actua...
Reposted by Ben Johnson
@ersatzben.bsky.social with a super interesting and challenging piece on #interdisciplinary #research. This will demand and repay a lot of careful reading. I have thoughts... but it's a fantastically interesting challenge to us as researchers and as funders!!
What counts as interdisciplinary research? And can we tell who is actually funding it, versus just talking about it? A data-driven deep-dive from me here: open.substack.com/pub/johnsonb...
What Actually Counts as Interdisciplinary Research?
A data-driven look at which funders actually support knowledge integration
open.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 7:16 AM
@ersatzben.bsky.social with a super interesting and challenging piece on #interdisciplinary #research. This will demand and repay a lot of careful reading. I have thoughts... but it's a fantastically interesting challenge to us as researchers and as funders!!
Reposted by Ben Johnson
Interesting bit of research from @ersatzben.bsky.social suggesting QR funding is really critical for supporting interdisciplinary research
johnsonb.substack.com/p/what-actua...
johnsonb.substack.com/p/what-actua...
What Actually Counts as Interdisciplinary Research?
A data-driven look at which funders support knowledge integration
johnsonb.substack.com
July 10, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Interesting bit of research from @ersatzben.bsky.social suggesting QR funding is really critical for supporting interdisciplinary research
johnsonb.substack.com/p/what-actua...
johnsonb.substack.com/p/what-actua...