Science in east gets £76m

Cambridge science will receive a £60m boost

Grants of £76m have been awarded to universities and colleges in the east of England to further scientific research.

The funding will benefit the universities of Cambridge, East Anglia, Essex and Anglia Polytechnic.

The funding was announced on Wednesday by the Government from the Science Research Investment Fund (SRIF) and will be allocated between 2004 to 2006 for specific projects.

In the last funding announcement, the SRIF awarded the Norwich-based University of East Anglia (UEA) £1.5m towards building a new centre for environmental research - a project still ongoing.

The biggest winner in this new round of grants is the University of Cambridge which has been awarded £60m.

The University of East Anglia will get £9.5m, while Essex University will get £5.9m.

Anglia Polytechnic University is being given a grant of £599,000 and £20,000 grants have been awarded to Norwich School of Art and Design and Writtle College, which is based in Chelmsford.