Statement: The UK should be a leading country in the G7 on R&D investment

We are united in a belief in the importance of ambitious, long-term, and sustainable investment in Research and Development (R&D) for the future of the United Kingdom. R&D is the foundation upon which the UK’s economic prosperity, well-being, and global competitiveness rest. A sustained increase in government R&D investment creates the stability to pursue big ideas, discoveries, and innovations that improve UK public services and make the world a better place for the next generation.

Such investment will instil confidence in the UK as a place to do business, drive growth, prosperity, and allow the UK to lead on the transition to net zero while tackling threats to health, wellbeing and quality of life across the UK. A majority of the public think that new research has a role to play in solving society’s challenges; 77% say new research is an essential or important part of solving the problem of climate change and 80% for securing the UK’s energy supply and lowering the cost of energy bills.

The UK should be a leading country in the G7 on R&D investment. We want to see political parties commit to investing in and nurturing a culture of research and innovation, ensuring the UK continues to attract private, philanthropic, and charity investment as well as the most talented researchers from around the world.

Authors

CaSE

The Academy of Medical Sciences

Association of Medical Research Charities  

The British Academy

CBI

Royal Academy of Engineering 

The Royal Society

Russell Group

University Alliance

Universities UK

Wellcome

Signatories

AIRTO (Association of Innovation, Research & Technology Organisations)

Biochemical Society

British Ecological Society

The British Pharmacological Society

The British Psychological Society

Cancer Research UK

Francis Crick Institute

Fraunhofer UK

The Institute of Engineering and Technology

Institute of Physics

Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)

The Institute of Zoology

LifeArc

Microbiology Society

Northumbria University

The Physiological Society

Royal Society of Biology

Royal Society of Chemistry

Royal Statistical Society

University of Bradford