The Future of the UK and Scotland programme of activities will aim to both inform the debate in the run-up to the referendum and assist in planning across a wide range of areas which will be affected by the outcome of the vote - whether for Scottish independence or the Union.

"The pre- and post-referendum investment is a tremendously exciting opportunity to do ground-breaking social science. The question facing Scotland and the rest of the UK - whether or not to create a new state - is rarely posed. The pre- and post-referendum investment provides an unprecedented opportunity for social scientists to explore how all those involved - be it citizens, civil society organisations, business, political parties, referendum campaigns, governments and other public authorities - respond to such a fundamental issue, and to understand the implications it raises for them. It is also an opportunity to build high-quality research evidence to help inform those responses in the run-up to and after the referendum, whatever its outcome.” Professor Charlie Jeffery, Future of UK and Scotland Research Co-ordinator