The Russell Group, The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), and other top people in research and development (R&D) are asking for the UK to be one of the top countries in the G7 for spending money on R&D.
They said investing heavily in R&D is important for the UK’s future, including its economy, people’s well-being, and competitiveness with other countries.
They believe that if the government keeps investing money into R&D, it can lead to big discoveries and new ideas that improve life, help the UK make the planet greener, and tackle big challenges like health and quality of life.
This group wants the UK to aim high in R&D spending compared to other big countries. They’re asking political leaders to support research and new ideas, making the UK an excellent place for investments and for intelligent people from everywhere to come and work.
The Russell Group has long argued that R&D needs more support and money. This would help universities use their intelligent minds to create a green, healthy, and economically strong future.
They say that a government promise to keep funding R&D would attract more money from private companies, help universities work together more, and speed up research progress.
Dr. Tim Bradshaw from the Russell Group says that research and new ideas can help the UK grow and solve big problems. However, to ensure the UK stays at the top of research, it needs much support and money. He’s asking politicians to make investing in research a big priority now and in the future.
After the government’s recent budget didn’t focus much on R&D, the Russell Group still pushes for more support for UK research and innovation. They suggest the government should aim to spend 3% of the country’s money on R&D by 2030, ensure the funds for research aren’t cut, and invest in things that help the environment.
They also want to see more support for new companies coming out of universities and better protection for research from outside threats. A study done for the Russell Group showed that spending money on research at their universities brings a lot of money back to the UK economy – for every £1 spent, more than £8.50 comes back, adding up to £37.6 billion in just one year.
According to the group, the biggest and most immediate benefit of investing in R&D is the talented people who develop new ideas and skills that help shape a better future for the UK. They want to see the UK as a place full of innovation and growth, as laid out in their plan, “A Bright Future.”