UK needs Pounds 700 million boost in science R&D

Pressure mounted on the government this week to increase spending on university research and development as part of its plans for a national science strategy.

The Save British Science pressure group added its voice to calls for a national strategy and massively increased funding. SBS launched its case in support of Ian Gibson MP, whose campaign for a science strategy is due to be launched in the Commons on Tuesday.

SBS says that university research would need an extra Pounds 700 million a year just to put the United Kingdom on a par with the top nations for investment in this area.

It says that public funding of research and development in the UK is 20 per cent lower in real terms than it was in 1983, when prime minister Tony Blair was first elected to parliament.

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