Universities are top destination for government R&D spending

Higher education institutions received almost £4.6 billion of net funding in 2012, up from £2.8 billion in 2001 in current prices. Over the same period, the amount given to private industry and public corporations fell from £2.2 billion to £1.8 billion.

The Statistical Bulletin, published on 11 July, reports that overall net government research and development funding climbed from £6.8 billion in 2001 to a peak of £9.4 billion in 2009, before falling to about £9 billion in 2012.

Between 2001 and 2012, research and development funding for overseas programmes doubled and spending in governmental departments increased by £300 million.

holly.else@tsleducation.com