Industry spend on R&D is faltering, says SBS

British industry is not investing in the research and development needed to ensure the United Kingdom's economic success, according to the pressure group Save British Science.

There is only one UK firm in the R&D scoreboard, a list of the world's top 50 corporate research investors published last week by the Department of Trade and Industry. "Last year, the UKhad two companies in the premier league. This year, we have just one premier-league investor, compared with 11 in Japan, seven in Germany and four in France. Without more investment, we will become poor compared to other countries," said SBS director Peter Cotgreave.