Ahead of the 2021 Autumn Budget and Spending Review, the Royal Society added its signature to a joint letter from the UK’s leading science and technology bodies, calling on the Chancellor to use this Spending Review to deliver the commitment made in the 2020 Budget to increase public investment in research and development to £22 billion by 2024/25 and signal, at home and abroad, that the UK is serious about becoming a science and technology superpower.
The recent success of UK research and innovation has been a lesson in long-term investment, as years of previous funding were shown to have created the conditions for quick and effective delivery of benefits to the public.
This Spending Review presents an opportunity to invest in research and innovation to build strong and innovative public services, level-up across the UK, lead the transition to Net Zero, advance Global Britain and deliver the Plan for Growth. Delivering on this vision is now crucial.