R&D vital to achieving the Government’s economic ambitions, say sector leaders
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As the Budget approaches, the organisations have urged Rachel Reeves to consider the vital role R&D will play in the Government’s long-term plans to grow the economy, increasing jobs and productivity.
Recognising that public spending is under pressure, there is a risk that short-term thinking now could damage the UK’s capacity for long-term growth and ambitions around its Industrial Strategy.
“It’s clear that the Government has ambitious plans for the economy through its missions and Industrial Strategy, and R&D stands ready to play a big part in helping achieve those goals.
“We recognise that finances are stretched, and the Government must make some difficult decisions around where money is spent. However, we are extremely concerned by the prospect of DSIT [Department of Science, Innovation and Technology] needing to absorb additional costs relating to Horizon Europe association, without additional money.
“To cover these costs would require deep cuts elsewhere in the R&D sector. This would lead to the loss of jobs, expertise, and momentum right when the sector is needed to make a vital contribution to boosting economic growth and productivity.”
Alicia Greated, Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE)
“The upcoming Budget comes at a crucial time as the government seeks to lay the groundwork for robust economic growth. Our sector has consistently proved how research and innovation delivers high rates of return, economically and socially, contributing to job creation, regional investment and breakthroughs that improve public services.
“We know the tough fiscal environment we’re operating in. But to achieve long-term growth – and build confidence in the UK as an attractive investment prospect – we urgently need stable policies and sustained R&D investment. Otherwise, we risk cutting off the research and innovation pipeline that contributes so much to the economy, services and citizens across the UK.”
Dr Tim Bradshaw, CEO of the Russell Group
“The Sanger Institute wholeheartedly supports CASE’s call for the UK Government to commit to continued investment in UK R&D. The UK has a globally leading research and development sector, that forms a cornerstone of the UK economy. Protecting R&D spend should be considered an investment in the health and wealth of the people of the UK.”
Dr Sarion Bowers, Head of Policy and Advocacy at the Wellcome Sanger Institute
The text of the letter and signatories can be found below:
Letter text
Dear Chancellor,
It has been positive to hear the Government recognise the value of UK Research & Development (R&D) in growing the economy and tackling many of the big challenges facing society, including in the Industrial Strategy Green Paper published this week.
What we have heard from Lord Vallance and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology in recent weeks is cause for optimism about the future for UK research. It is exciting to see the direction R&D is headed in the planned spending review next year. However, it’s important that the Government doesn’t undermine the long-term ability of R&D to contribute to economic growth and improving public services through decisions made in the short term.
This month’s budget is a critical moment. We recognise that there are difficult decisions to be made with the public finances, but it is vital that our long-term ability to grow the economy isn’t undermined by the false economy of short-term cuts.
Reports of a re-profiling of investment leading to additional costs in DSIT’s 2025/26 budget, with no extra financing provided to cover a shortfall, are very concerning. It would mean deep cuts across other parts of R&D investment, with significant negative consequences for the UK’s world-leading R&D sector, putting the brakes on growth and undermining confidence. Cutting UK R&D now would be a false economy, the sector would lose stability, lose expertise, and lose momentum.
We urge you to use the budget and spending review to commit to continued investment in R&D and signal, at home and abroad, that the UK is serious about R&D’s role in contributing to sustained economic growth.
Doing so will fuel economic growth and boost productivity, enabling researchers and innovators to continue driving the high-skill sectors and cutting-edge technologies that will help shape the UK’s future.
Crucially, certainty around stable public investment will also help leverage the private investment needed to achieve the Government’s ambitions for growth.
Signatories
- Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE)
- Association of Medical Research Charities
- ARC (Advanced Research Clusters)
- Babraham Institute
- Biochemical Society
- British Ecological Society
- British Heart Foundation
- Brunel University of London
- Bruntwood SciTech
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
- Earlham Institute
- Engineering Professors’ Council
- Fraunhofer UK Research Limited
- GW4
- Institute of Acoustics
- Institute of Physics (IOP)
- John Innes Centre
- LifeArc
- London Mathematical Society (LMS)
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
- Newcastle University
- Quadram Institute
- Royal Astronomical Society
- Royal Society of Biology
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Russell Group
- The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
- The Geological Society
- The Physiological Society
- The Sainsbury Laboratory
- UK Bioindustry Association (BIA)
- UK Dementia Research Institute
- Universities UK
- University of Glasgow
- University of Sussex
- Wellcome
- Wellcome Sanger Institute
- Zoological Society of London (ZSL)
More information
This news announcement is based on, and in support of, the Letter to the Chancellor coordinated by CaSE (the Campaign for Science and Engineering).
