A £20bn investment is needed if the government is to achieve its vision of a science-led economy, according to a new analysis.
The Campaign for Science and Engineering (Case) is calling for the boost to avoid “stagnation”.
Case has published a new report outlining how the government can stimulate a rise in the UK’s science industries.
Dr Sarah Main, Case Director, said: “Government needs a compelling vision for a scientifically-enabled economy with a plan and a budget that attracts cross-government support and global attention.
“It needs to invest in the UK’s exceptional science base, which is an attractor for global money and talent, by sustaining its unique breadth and by making R&D infrastructure and future skills an early priority.”
The government has made an initial pledge of an additional £7bn to UK R&D between 2016 and 2021.
Case is calling for it to increase the scale of increments and invest an additional £20.2bn between 2020-21 and 2024-25 to meet its target.
It estimates that this £20bn investment would attract a calculated £28bn of leveraged research investment from private sources over 15 year.
Image credit | iStock
