Royal Society response to £86bn R&D package unveiled by the Chancellor ahead of the Spending Review

Responding to the £86bn R&D package unveiled by the Chancellor ahead of the spending review Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:

“We have to be cautious as there is very little detail in the announcement but it does look like the core science budget could increase by 10% over the next four years. In difficult financial circumstances, that would be a vote of confidence in research and innovation and in the people and ideas that will increase productivity, drive growth and improve lives across the UK.

“Such an uplift would protect science from real terms cuts in the coming years and hopefully lay the ground for real terms increases once the country’s finances improve.

“This looks to be a positive outcome, but we must await the full details in the Chancellor’s speech on Wednesday.”