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Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak has announced the governments budget and spending review.
Dr Mark Downs CSci FRSB, Chief Executive of the RSB, said:
“Funding for science, engineering and technology in this budget contains a welcome increase in support, but it remains behind the trajectory needed to maintain steady growth towards the widely agreed aim of 2.4% of GDP invested in R&D.
“We urge the Government to accelerate towards additional investment in science, which will also encourage and lead to greater private sector investment. We will also be hoping to see that any increases in departmental budgets add support to their R&D budgets which are a vital part of policy development.
“These important components of the R&D landscape need support, as well as the important budget for UK Research and Innovation.
“As a successful science nation we absolutely must find new ways to enhance research and application opportunities and do justice to the potential of our talented workforce and students.
“We are faced by huge challenges ahead from preserving health and biodiversity, to opportunities to make life better through innovation and conservation.
“UK bioscience has already brought enormous value, health and wealth to our society here and worldwide, and has enriched all our lives by building knowledge and shining a light on the sheer wonder of life.
“Investment in UK bioscientists and infrastructure through expanded investment in science research and innovation is a clear way to accelerate recovery from the pandemic and protect against climate change.
“We will to look at the budget detail as it emerges to understand what it will mean, and continue to make the case to secure the investment and regulation that will build better outcomes sooner.”
Prof Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive, UK Research and Innovation, said:
“In today’s Spending Review the Chancellor outlined a welcome increase and sustained investment through a three-year settlement for research and innovation that will deliver a more inclusive and greener knowledge economy driving up prosperity and wellbeing across the UK. This will provide a strong positive trajectory that will capitalise on UK excellence across the research and innovation system.
“We have worked closely with researchers and innovators across the UK to make the strongest possible case for significant and long-term funding, through a shared vision for an innovation-led economy. This settlement provides the opportunity to work together to make this vision a reality.
“The Chancellor’s announcements underscore the benefits that will come from co-ordinating significant investments into the research and innovation system through BEIS and other Government departments, and attracting private investment, to address complex goals such as net zero and levelling up.
“UKRI will play an important role in realising these goals through our reach across the whole research and innovation system, including small and large businesses, universities, and institutes, spanning all disciplines and working with many people and partners across the UK and globally. We have a huge opportunity to create the smart connections needed across the growing research and innovation system.”
Prof Bart de Strooper, Director of the UK Dementia Research Institute, said:
“The absence of the Dementia Moonshot today was a major blow to UK neuroscientists racing to find cures for these devastating diseases – not to mention the 885,000 people living with dementia in the UK, their families, friends and carers.
“However, the Chancellor was right when he said that the UK is a global leader in innovation. His commitments to increasing R&D spending and bringing in global scientific talent have the potential to galvanise the sector.
“Innovation is the key to unlocking the greatest challenges the world faces, and this is never more true than in dementia. To fulfil the Chancellor’s aims of boosting our health service, protecting the economy, and securing the UK as a science superpower, dementia research will be a rare panacea.”
Dr Daniel Rathbone, CaSE Assistant Director, said:
“Today’s Spending Review is a positive outcome for UK science and engineering. The Chancellor has shown that he gets the powerful arguments being made by the sector that a high skill, innovative economy is the ‘only route’ to securing prosperity and well-being for the entire UK. He has rightly placed research and innovation at the heart of his plan for growth.”
“The rest of the world is still powering ahead on R&D, so it is disappointing that the Chancellor has had to delay to £22bn target to 2026. To achieve their stated ambition of investing 2.4% of GDP in R&D by 2027, the government will need to re-double its efforts to maintain business confidence and investment to ensure this goal becomes a reality.”
“Today’s review sets out a raft of steps towards the Prime Minister and Chancellor’s aspiration for the UK to become a ‘science superpower’. This includes confirmin increases to funding for core research, a significant increase in R&D budgets for some UK Government departments and confirmation that additional money will be made available to pay the costs required to associate to Horizon Europe. The new Office for Science and Technology Strategy will have a vital role to play in joining up these efforts across Government.”
“Looking ahead we want to see more detail on the role of R&D in levelling-up and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We hope to hear more about the scheme on publication of the Levelling Up White Paper before the end of the year. We look forward to working with the Government as it develops its plans to ensure the investment in R&D benefits communities across the UK.”
Prof Julia Black, President of the British Academy, said:
“This Budget and Spending Review come at a time of extraordinary pressure on the public finances as Britain seeks to recover from the twin challenges of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. Support for R&D and higher education will be vital to the UK’s recovery, the delivery of its strategies for Innovation and Talent and the Integrated Review as well as maintaining its global reputation as a centre of excellence for science and research across all the disciplines.
“We therefore welcome the decision to continue funding R&D substantially and in a sustained way, increasing annual investment from £14.9bn to £20bn by 2024/5, and the commitment to continue that trajectory to reach £22bn by 2026/7. Long term continuous investment is the best way to build real capacity across our research base. We still believe that the original target to invest at least 2.4 per cent of GDP in research by 2027 remains imperative if we are to compete on a global stage where percentage investments are already much higher. We therefore welcome the government’s renewed commitment to this target, particularly the increase in the proportion of the 2.4% which will come from public investment.
“Britain’s recovery from the pandemic, its ability to lead the transition to Net Zero, to address inequalities and to continue to be seen as a global leader will depend in large part on the health of its research sector, with STEM and SHAPE disciplines (Social Sciences and Humanities for People and the Economy) working side by side. Investment in R&D is a key part of the solution to any problem facing us as a society. This crucially includes delivering on the Government’s commitment to associating to Horizon Europe so that we can continue to collaborate with our European partners and fully participate in the world-leading European Research Council.”
Prof Paul Hardaker, the chief executive officer, the Institute of Physics, said:
“Investing in science and innovation doesn’t just help the economy and create jobs, it helps train the next generation, develops the skills of the workforce, and allows more people to benefit from the opportunities that this brings. Whilst it is encouraging to see the Chancellor maintained his commitment of investing £22bn it is disappointing to see this being spread over the longer term. Other countries who are also living with difficult economic conditions are making these investments now because they see the value it will bring.
“We understand there are some tough decisions to make but if the UK wants to remain a science and innovation superpower, fuel the green industrial revolution, and grow a high-skilled and diverse workforce we need to move faster: now is the time to invest in knowledge, research, innovation and skills.
“If we are not careful this will be a missed opportunity for our science and innovation strategy and our levelling up agenda. By not investing more in our strengths and capabilities, we are failing to unlock our potential, develop the skills and enrich the diversity and talent of the people we will depend on in the future.”
Prof Dame Anne Johnson PMedSci, President, the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:
“Today’s Budget and Spending Review at long-last sets out a three-year rising budget for R&D that the research sector has been crying out for and I am glad that the Chancellor has listened and taken action. Increasing annual investment to £20 billion by 2024/25, whilst it involves pushing the Government’s own £22 billion target back two years to 2026/27, represents a very significant uplift to the overall R&D budget.
“I am particularly pleased to see increases in investment in health research through the National Institute of Health Research, a multi-year settlement for UKRI and the National Academies, and a renewed ambition to make the UK’s visa system more attractive to overseas talent.
“Important questions remain, particularly our ability to finally secure full association to Horizon Europe, but overall today’s settlement represents a real step forward, showing that this Government is starting to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to being a science superpower.
“I hope that these headline commitments will help to reassure our incredible biomedical and health researchers and our innovative life sciences sector, allowing future planning and the continuation of delivering life-saving research in the UK.”
Prof Martin Siegert, Co-Director of Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment, said:
“I struggle to see how the government’s position on air travel is consistent with their commitment to reach net zero. We should not be cutting air passenger duty on domestic flights given that passengers do not pay VAT on tickets and it sends the wrong message just days before we host COP26. The Chancellor should be doing more to encouraging train journeys to better connect the UK. It would also make more sense to increase air passenger duty on long haul flights, as they are responsible for a surprisingly high share of emissions.”
Dr Helen Pain, CEO, the Royal Society of Chemistry, said:
“Many in our community will be disappointed that the Chancellor has moved the goalposts on the targets for investment in R&D, but we recognise we are in a challenging fiscal climate and that the new commitments do still show a significant increase in spending, with a 3-year settlement for R&D.
“We know that the chemical sciences can play a significant role in driving the pandemic recovery, just as they have done in responding to the pandemic itself. Every year the chemical sciences generate around £83bn towards the UK economy and we are at the forefront of tackling the big challenges facing society such as the climate emergency.
“Long-term commitments on Government investment in R&D are vital – they give business confidence, attracting talent and private investment, and enabling chemical scientists to push the frontiers of knowledge and deliver solutions to all the challenges we face.
“Today’s announcement is a start, but there’s more that can be done. We will continue to work with others in the sector to show the value that investment in R&D can bring to the UK, and continue to build the argument for prioritising R&D in future spending.”
Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell, Chair, the Russell Group & President and Vice-Chancellor, The University of Manchester, said:
“The Government has rightly recognised that world-leading research and innovation will be crucial both to driving a strong, sustainable recovery and to tackling transformational issues such as delivering Net-Zero. In a challenging economic climate, it is very welcome that the Chancellor has today confirmed long-term plans to increase public funding for research, which will provide much needed certainty to private investors and help signal that the UK is serious about cementing its position as a science superpower.
“In particular, we are pleased that the Government has confirmed an early and continuing model for increasing public research funding, which will mean public investment rising over 35% by 2024/25. Increasing funding in a consistent and predictable way like this will help to leverage in more private investment earlier, boost business confidence and ultimately help to set the UK on a course to meet its ambition to invest 2.4% of GDP in R&D by 2027.
“Our universities will continue to work closely with Government departments and businesses to drive private investment and maximise the impact of R&D, maintaining the strategic advantage we have in science and technology. Today’s announcements will create more high-value jobs and opportunity and represent an excellent investment for the Government and taxpayers: for every £1 of public research investment, Russell Group universities deliver £9 for the UK’s economy and society.”
Dr Tim Bradshaw, Chief Executive, the Russell Group, said:
“The Government’s commitment to growing research and innovation funding is an important recognition that the country’s future prosperity will depend on ideas and talent to deliver sustainable growth. This record scale up of funding will support innovation schemes with a track-record of delivering returns as well as long-term investment in basic research that drives cutting-edge scientific discoveries and early-stage investment in new ideas.
“With targeted support, there is a golden opportunity to nurture emerging vibrant innovation clusters based around centres of science and technological excellence at leading universities right around the country. Places like the advanced manufacturing centre in Sheffield, the science and technology hub in Newcastle and the ID Manchester innovation district can help revitalise our regional economies through high-level skills, jobs and investment.
“The pandemic has shown the critical importance of investment in research across the widest possible range of disciplines. The UK’s expertise in social sciences, mathematical modelling, human behaviour research and many other fields have been at the core of our response, alongside excellence in medical and other sciences. This multidisciplinary approach is a real strength of the UK and one that can be brought to bear on other major challenges such as Net-Zero and levelling up.
“Today’s investment announcements are a welcome boost for the UK science base. Our universities are ready to play their part, working with Government, businesses and local partners of all sizes to ensure research and innovation is translated into tangible benefits for individual citizens across the country and for the economy as a whole.”
Sir Adrian Smith, President, Royal Society, said:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment in the Spending Review to increase funding to £20 billion a year by the end of this parliament, with a clear plan to reach £22 billion by 2026/7, and specific plans to strengthen the science and innovation ecosystem.
“Recognising the unprecedented circumstances faced by the country, today’s announcement of sustained increases for science funding is a welcome recognition of the importance of science and innovation to the nation’s resilience and growth. It is also a strong signal of the Government’s ambition to grow the full potential of the UK as a global leader in science and innovation.
“Over the past few weeks this argument has been repeatedly made by the science and business communities and we are pleased that the Government has listened. This long-term commitment to research sends a positive message to businesses, at home and abroad, that the UK is and will remain a global science leader.”
Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director, Wellcome, said:
“We welcome the Government’s ongoing commitment to making the UK a science superpower.
“The Chancellor made research a substantial part of his speech, reflecting the importance of science to our health and future prosperity. It is very encouraging to see substantial increases in Government spending on R&D over the next three years. The previous spending target of £22bn has been pushed back until after the next election, but the Government clearly understands it will need to continue to increase investment in science to catch up with other leading science nations. The UK’s investment in R&D as a proportion of GDP lags behind the OECD average and it will take time to change that. [Reference: https://data.oecd.org/rd/gross-domestic-spending-on-r-d.htm]
“The Government has also listened to the sector in specifying that the full costs of joining the EU’s Horizon research funding scheme will be met. I hope that the current impasse in finalising the UK’s membership will be resolved quickly to give certainty to researchers. I also look forward to the UK returning to spending 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid as soon as possible.”
Prof Sir Jim McDonald FREng, President, Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
“Investing in innovation is investing in the future—this budget makes that a reality. The comprehensive package of investment for R&D announced today, from an increase in the core R&D budget to regional investment incentives, will grow our knowledge and innovation-led economy across the UK and give much needed confidence to businesses that the UK is a great place to invest in R&D. It is important that the interdependencies within the UK research and innovation system have been acknowledged as this is key to maximise the opportunity for us to become a science and technology superpower.
“I am particularly delighted to see the multi-year and increasing settlement for Innovate UK and emphasis on late-stage R&D that the engineering community has long called for. We hear time and again from entrepreneurs and businesses how much they value Innovate UK’s support. This much needed increase in funding will enable Innovate UK to realise its full potential and drive innovation in businesses around the country.
“We acknowledge that against a challenging fiscal context, the target date to reach £22 billion invested in R&D has been delayed. Nevertheless, the measures outlined by the Chancellor today will stimulate innovation for a better, faster and more resilient recovery, building a more sustainable and inclusive economy that works for everyone and supports the delivery of net zero.”
Nick Hillman, Director, the Higher Education Policy Institute, said:
“The slowdown in planned public spending on research and development is disappointing. Unlike other areas of government spending, when it comes to research, public funding “crowds in” rather than “crowds out” private funding. So the road towards the long-standing commitment to spend 2.4% of GDP on R&D – which is only the OECD average, so not actually very ambitious – just got bumpier still.
“It is a shame because, as the Prime Minister said during his party conference speech, public and private sectors working together on the innovations of the future is how to maintain the UK’s relative global standing. Indeed, without cutting-edge research, there would be no COVID jabs, more environmental damage and slower economic growth.
“However, it is also important to see the new numbers in the round. If the Chancellor had never put the figure of £22 billion public spending on research by 2024/25 in the public domain, as he did last year, then we would regard today’s numbers as a big increase in the commitment to science and research, and I am pleased to see that the 2.4% commitment lives to fight another day. Even after today’s announcement, the increase in spending is impressive, although in truth that is partly only because our starting point on research spending is so low compared to our competitors.
“Overall, the new Science Minister will need to work hard to allay concerns that we are seeing a diminution in the Government’s commitment to science, research and technology, but it is not an impossible task.
“Aside from research, the higher education sector was hoping for more details on the Government’s response to the Augar review, which reported two-and-a-half years ago. We still don’t know what, if anything, will happen to student loans or student numbers or tuition fees. This is surprising because, given major changes can take a couple of years to introduce, we will soon approach the point where it is not feasible to roll out really big new changes smoothly before the next election.”
Declared interests
The nature of this story means everyone quoted above could be perceived to have a stake in it. As such, our policy is not to ask for interests to be declared – instead, they are implicit in each person’s affiliation.
Sir Adrian Smith, President, Royal Society, said:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment in the Spending Review to increase funding to £20 billion a year by the end of this parliament, with a clear plan to reach £22 billion by 2026/7, and specific plans to strengthen the science and innovation ecosystem.
“Recognising the unprecedented circumstances faced by the country, today’s announcement of sustained increases for science funding is a welcome recognition of the importance of science and innovation to the nation’s resilience and growth. It is also a strong signal of the Government’s ambition to grow the full potential of the UK as a global leader in science and innovation.
“Over the past few weeks this argument has been repeatedly made by the science and business communities and we are pleased that the Government has listened. This long-term commitment to research sends a positive message to businesses, at home and abroad, that the UK is and will remain a global science leader.”
Dr Jeremy Farrar, Director, Wellcome, said:
“We welcome the Government’s ongoing commitment to making the UK a science superpower.
“The Chancellor made research a substantial part of his speech, reflecting the importance of science to our health and future prosperity. It is very encouraging to see substantial increases in Government spending on R&D over the next three years. The previous spending target of £22bn has been pushed back until after the next election, but the Government clearly understands it will need to continue to increase investment in science to catch up with other leading science nations. The UK’s investment in R&D as a proportion of GDP lags behind the OECD average and it will take time to change that. [Reference: https://data.oecd.org/rd/gross-domestic-spending-on-r-d.htm]
“The Government has also listened to the sector in specifying that the full costs of joining the EU’s Horizon research funding scheme will be met. I hope that the current impasse in finalising the UK’s membership will be resolved quickly to give certainty to researchers. I also look forward to the UK returning to spending 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid as soon as possible.”
Prof Sir Jim McDonald FREng, President, Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
“Investing in innovation is investing in the future—this budget makes that a reality. The comprehensive package of investment for R&D announced today, from an increase in the core R&D budget to regional investment incentives, will grow our knowledge and innovation-led economy across the UK and give much needed confidence to businesses that the UK is a great place to invest in R&D. It is important that the interdependencies within the UK research and innovation system have been acknowledged as this is key to maximise the opportunity for us to become a science and technology superpower.
“I am particularly delighted to see the multi-year and increasing settlement for Innovate UK and emphasis on late-stage R&D that the engineering community has long called for. We hear time and again from entrepreneurs and businesses how much they value Innovate UK’s support. This much needed increase in funding will enable Innovate UK to realise its full potential and drive innovation in businesses around the country.
“We acknowledge that against a challenging fiscal context, the target date to reach £22 billion invested in R&D has been delayed. Nevertheless, the measures outlined by the Chancellor today will stimulate innovation for a better, faster and more resilient recovery, building a more sustainable and inclusive economy that works for everyone and supports the delivery of net zero.”
Nick Hillman, Director, the Higher Education Policy Institute, said:
“The slowdown in planned public spending on research and development is disappointing. Unlike other areas of government spending, when it comes to research, public funding “crowds in” rather than “crowds out” private funding. So the road towards the long-standing commitment to spend 2.4% of GDP on R&D – which is only the OECD average, so not actually very ambitious – just got bumpier still.
“It is a shame because, as the Prime Minister said during his party conference speech, public and private sectors working together on the innovations of the future is how to maintain the UK’s relative global standing. Indeed, without cutting-edge research, there would be no COVID jabs, more environmental damage and slower economic growth.
“However, it is also important to see the new numbers in the round. If the Chancellor had never put the figure of £22 billion public spending on research by 2024/25 in the public domain, as he did last year, then we would regard today’s numbers as a big increase in the commitment to science and research, and I am pleased to see that the 2.4% commitment lives to fight another day. Even after today’s announcement, the increase in spending is impressive, although in truth that is partly only because our starting point on research spending is so low compared to our competitors.
“Overall, the new Science Minister will need to work hard to allay concerns that we are seeing a diminution in the Government’s commitment to science, research and technology, but it is not an impossible task.
“Aside from research, the higher education sector was hoping for more details on the Government’s response to the Augar review, which reported two-and-a-half years ago. We still don’t know what, if anything, will happen to student loans or student numbers or tuition fees. This is surprising because, given major changes can take a couple of years to introduce, we will soon approach the point where it is not feasible to roll out really big new changes smoothly before the next election.”
Declared interests
The nature of this story means everyone quoted above could be perceived to have a stake in it. As such, our policy is not to ask for interests to be declared – instead, they are implicit in each person’s affiliation.