Royal Society responds to the UK Government's Research and Development Roadmap

Responding to the publication of the UK Government’s Research and Development Roadmap, Venki Ramakrishnan, President of the Royal Society, said:

“Maintaining the UK’s position as a scientific leader is essential to our long term success as a nation and will be crucial to rebuilding jobs and the economy as we recover from the pandemic. The R&D roadmap sets a vision for UK science that is forward and outward looking. With its focus on investment, talent – whoever they are and where ever they are from – and international collaboration it can provide a basis for confidence in the future.

“The UK's success has been built on attracting the best talent from all over the world to come and work with our own home grown researchers. We must maintain that ability and new visa routes and the Office for Talent are welcome steps to achieve this. Our participation in EU research programmes has benefited everyone and it is good to see the Government’s renewed commitment to continuing that fruitful association.

“With top research institutes, universities and companies spread across the UK, investment in science can help bring greater prosperity to all parts of the UK. And to keep innovation flowing, you need basic research, so the funding for infrastructure and universities hit hard by the pandemic are also welcome.”