The UK Government has identified research and innovation as key to its plan to ‘unite and level up’ and ‘build back better’ following COVID-19. Science is also central to its vision for Global Britain to 2030 in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. Investment in science is investment in the UK’s future resilience, but uncertainty over funding for Horizon Europe coupled with major cuts to ODA highlight a serious mismatch between the rhetoric and the Government’s actions.
In this explainer we outline the potential R&D funding gap the UK now faces, and why the Government’s current actions are undermining its ambition for the UK to be a science superpower.
Find out more about the Society's work on research and innovation.