Call for the next Prime Minister to back research and innovation
20 July 2022The Royal Society has joined with partners from across the research and business communities to call on the final two Conservative party leadership candidates to ensure the UK remains a world leader in research, development and innovation (RDI).
Published today (21 July), the statement recognises the welcome support provided to the sector by the current administration, including a commitment to increase public research and development (R&D) spending to £22bn a year by 2026/27.
However, in order for the UK to remain globally competitive and able to tackle the greatest challenges of our time, it goes on to call for a pledge to increase overall R&D investment to 3% of GPD, supported by a strategic, long-term approach to funding, immigration and the tax system.
The statement also calls for continued close collaboration with the international research community, with an appeal to the next Prime Minister to secure Horizon Europe association as a priority.
Signatories include the national academies, charities, learned societies, universities and business.