TY - JOUR AU - Linden, Belinda PY - 2008 DA - 2008/02/29 TI - Basic Blue Skies Research in the UK: Are we losing out? JO - Journal of Biomedical Discovery and Collaboration SP - 3 VL - 3 IS - 1 AB - The term blue skies research implies a freedom to carry out flexible, curiosity-driven research that leads to outcomes not envisaged at the outset. This research often challenges accepted thinking and introduces new fields of study. Science policy in the UK has given growing support for short-term goal-oriented scientific research projects, with pressure being applied on researchers to demonstrate the future application of their work. These policies carry the risk of restricting freedom, curbing research direction, and stifling rather than stimulating the creativity needed for scientific discovery. SN - 1747-5333 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1747-5333-3-3 DO - 10.1186/1747-5333-3-3 ID - Linden2008 ER -