UK science bodies back ‘sustained increase’ in research spending

Dozens of the UK’s leading research bodies – including universities, scientific research charities and learned societies – have called on the next Westminster government to increase investment in research and innovation.

In a statement published by the Campaign for Science and Engineering, in collaboration with 30 other leaders and representatives of the UK research sector, leaders of UK political parties are urged to “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”.

“The UK should be a leading country in the G7 on research and development investment,” says the statement, which was co-authored by the Academy of Medical Sciences, the Association of Medical Research Charities, the British Academy, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society and the Wellcome Trust, as well as the Russell Group, the University Alliance and Universities UK.

It is also supported by organisations such as the Francis Crick Institute, the Biochemical Society, Cancer Research UK, the Institute of Physics and the Royal Statistical Society, as well as several other learned societies and scientific publishers.

The statement, published on 26 March, adds: “We are united in a belief in the importance of ambitious, long-term and sustainable investment in R&D for the future of the United Kingdom” and that “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,” it concludes.

In a statement in February marking the first year of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)’s operation, science secretary Michelle Donelan said “public spending on R&D is at the highest-ever level” and the government was “fulfilling our commitment to spend £20 billion across the next financial year”.

That level of spending would meet a pledge made in the 2022 autumn statement, said Ms Donelan, with the DSIT stating that spending levels already stood at £19.4 billion.

However, this is lower than the goal of £22 billion by 2024-25 outlined in the 2020 budget, which was watered down in the post-pandemic budget of September 2021 by Rishi Sunak, chancellor at the time, who instead made a commitment to reach that target by 2026-27 – a post-election target that is likely to run into various spending reviews.

The new joint statement cites new research showing that a “majority of the public think that new research has a role to play in solving society’s challenges” and claiming that 77 per cent say new research is an essential or important part of solving the problem of climate change and 80 per cent for securing the UK’s energy supply and lowering the cost of energy bills.

Sir Adrian Smith, president of the Royal Society, said research and innovation was “fundamental to the UK’s economic growth and productivity, but investment cannot be turned on and off like a tap”.

“We need an ambitious, long-term plan to maximise public benefits from technologies like AI and low-carbon energy, and prepare us for inevitable economic shocks,” he said.

“Now is the time to design a research and innovation system fit for the decades ahead and invest to make sure it becomes a reality.”

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com