Conference acknowledges the importance of Scotland's knowledge economy, and recognises that our growing STEMM industries are being stifled under the UK's current fiscal priorities.
Conference notes that with over one third of Scotland employed in STEMM related jobs, we must realise our full potential so it may be utilised, with rapidity & efficiency, when independent.
Conference recognises that the UK Government and current Research bodies are fiscally concentrating on research and projects which benefit a London- Centric economy - resulting in disproportionate funding for our larger STEMM industrial share and harming our economic success.
Conference also realises that consistent underfunding and misaligned priorities has resulted in a huge shortfall in the sector, from teaching to nursing to computing; an unsustainable problem which needs addressing now for the sake of young Scots' opportunities, futures, and livelihoods.
Conference concludes that the Scottish Government should establish a Scottish Research Council, which will work as a complementary funding body to the United Kingdom Research & Innovation body until we are independent - at which point, it will become a full replacement.
Conference also deduces that the SRC should be tasked with deciding which projects and qualifications should receive funding, as well as able to provide innovation grants and funding for both public and private research on a non-profit driven basis.
Conference understands that a reduction of elitism within academia is essential - as such, the SRC should also offer consistent living-expense-studentships attached to specific quaternary qualifications (alongside the UKRI scholarships) as a means to provide more stability, opportunities and accessibility to STEMM jobs.
Therefore, conference proposes that the SRC should decide which quaternary education qualifications are industrially essential and will cover the tuition fees for such degrees.