by business editor Trevor Sturgess

The University of Kent vice-chancellor has urged the Government to keep funding scientific research in the wake of the Pfizer plant closure "setback".

Physicist Julia Goodfellow, former chief executive of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, said the decision was "an enormous reverse for the UK policy of increasing private sector research and development, especially in the pharmaceutical areas."

It was now up to Business Secretary Vince Cable and Universities minister David Willetts to respond positively to the challenge.

Pfizer's decision was "a big setback and an enormous blow to Kent," she said. "I'm worried for people, I'm worried for Kent and I'm worried for the country."

But she had this message for Government: "The UK science research base is excellent. Keep on funding it."

Prof Goodfellow pledged the university's support for the planned taskforce being led by Kent County Council leader Paul Carter and designed to shape new opportunities for science in the county after the loss of 2,400 jobs.

"We're very willing to work with the taskforce on whatever's required. We don't want to lose those skills and we have some very skilled people there."

The university had been working closely with Pfizer on accrediting its training schemes. And several university staff were related to Pfizer employees.

She paid tribute to Kent-based Pfizer staff, who had done so much for the UK science comunity, especially in chemistry. "They've really interacted with the sector in the UK and that will be a big loss."

She hoped science students would not be put off by the decision, believing there would be fewer jobs in their discipline.

The university was telling undergraduates that they would have to accept they were in a global industry and be prepared to work anywhere in the world. "They need skills and understanding of different cultures and working overseas."