Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on the R&D elements of the Spending Review, as announced by the Chancellor.
Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:
“The Chancellor has today backed British science with the commitment of £86bn over the next four years. This is a welcome show of support for the UK’s outstanding science base. In difficult circumstances this will give some certainty to those looking to lead research and invest in the UK.
“It is good to see the Government recognise the skills gap, but we need a fundamental reset to maths and data education, for all ages, to equip young people with the skills they need for modern well-paid jobs. The Chancellor’s speech also had a welcome emphasis on a clean and secure energy future for the UK.
“While today’s commitment to protecting the research and innovation budget is encouraging, we continue to lag behind our competitors in the G7 on research and innovation investment when we should be looking to lead. We must also go further to attract and retain global talent. The UK’s sky-high upfront visa costs are an unnecessary deterrent at a time when our competitors are rolling out the welcome mat for the brightest minds.”
Steve Bates OBE, CEO of the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA), said:
“The Chancellor’s investments in R&D through UKRI and scaling life science companies through the British Business Bank is a huge vote of confidence in our sector’s ability to drive economic growth.
“Investments into life sciences and AI will transform drug discovery and deliver greater NHS efficiency, the Health Data Research Service could make the UK the go-to destination for health innovation, while new funding for medicines manufacturing will help us attract internationally mobile investments to the UK and create well-paid rewarding jobs across the country.
“Greater operational freedom and budget for the British Business Bank will allow it to play an even greater role in boosting our venture capital ecosystem and complementing the Chancellor’s pension reforms to increase investment in Britain’s growth sectors. This is the critical element of the Chancellor’s Plan for Change that really must be delivered to the full, with no stone left unturned.
“We await the Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan later this month to see the full details of how the spending plans announced today will be delivered in reality, and look forward to working in partnership with Government to make every penny count for Britain’s economy, people and patients.”
Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, UKRI Chief Executive, said:
“This multi-year settlement confirms the government’s continued commitment to the critical role of research and innovation in delivering a high-productivity, high-growth economy, improving public services and creating high-quality jobs across the UK.
“Over the coming months we will work with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on the allocations process to ensure we can best support the research and innovation critical for the UK’s prosperity.”
Dr Joe Marshall, Chief Executive of NCUB said:
“We welcome the Government’s ongoing recognition that research and innovation are at the heart of sustainable economic growth. The headline commitment to an £86 billion R&D budget over four years is critical. Our analysis shows that every £1 invested in research leverages an additional £4 from business in the long term — generating profound economic, social, and cultural benefits for the UK.
“The Spending Review shapes not only the scale of funding for research, innovation, and skills but also its strategic direction. We applaud the pledge to extend R&D impact across the whole UK — notably through the new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund in England and reforms following the Green Book Review. The guidance for developing Local Growth Plans in England rightly references the critical importance of involving local businesses, higher education providers and bodies such as UKRI.”
“The allocation of the £86 billion research budget reveals important priorities. The substantial increase in defence-related R&D spending — rising from £1.7 billion in 2025/26 to £2.4 billion in 2028/29 — signals a shift in the research landscape that will have significant implications for the kinds of projects funded.”
“While the commitment to R&D funding is welcome, it is vital that key risks within the research and innovation system are addressed. UK universities play an indispensable and multifaceted role but continue to face severe funding pressures. The Chancellor’s acknowledgement that our universities are a national asset was encouraging, yet proper, sustained investment is essential to enable universities to drive UK innovation and progress forward.”
Dr Alicia Greated, Executive Director, Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), said:
“The Chancellor’s speech today has brought welcome confirmation of the announcements made at the weekend that the UK R&D budget is being protected in tough fiscal circumstances. Supporting UK R&D is an essential way to generate growth in the economy, ensure excellence in UK universities and research institutes, stimulate private sector innovation, and improve lives and livelihoods across the UK.
“It is important that we now consider the full detail of the spending review publications, as well as, critically, future departmental allocations. CaSE will be working to analyse the plans and assess the impact they will have on the R&D sector, particularly as there are several promising new initiatives that will need accounting for alongside existing commitments””
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