UK S&I; Policy Statement - Science and Technology for a New World
22 June 2020
“Science is vital to our country’s continued future prosperity.”—Prime Minister Tony Blair
Scientific invention and innovation are critical to the United Kingdom’s long-term competitiveness. To that end, the UK has created policies designed to promote the best science and technology research in universities and laboratories, as well as successful adoption of new ideas, new science, and new technologies by private industry. The UK government often seeks counsel and collaboration with the very researchers its policies ultimately seek to encourage.
The UK’s commitment to fostering this collaborative environment received a $1.86 billion (£1 billion) boost in July 2004 when the government published its 10-year investment framework for science and innovation. The framework lays out the government’s plan for public and private spending on UK R&D to increase to 2.5 percent of GDP over the next decade.
The UK is a world leader in establishing forward-thinking science and technology (S&T) policy, which includes:
- Passing legislation that supports private industry and public institutions conducting key S&T research in areas such as stem cells and animal rights
- Increasing commercial investment in R&D and encouraging industry to draw on the UK science base for ideas and talent
- Establishing innovative S&T programs that draw participation from industry, academic and research communities, and government
- Funding the advancement of S&T efforts
- Developing and supporting sustainable and financially robust universities and public laboratories across the UK
- Promoting public awareness of S&T research and its many real-world applications
The UK and the U.S. already have an extensive history of S&T collaboration based on the exchange of ideas and best practices in science and innovation policy. The total flow of research and development investment between the UK and the U.S. is larger than between any other two countries in the world—approximately $4 billion (£2.2 billion) in each direction.
Learn more…
Science & Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014 (PDF)
Science Budget 2003-04 to 2005-06
Science and Innovation: Working toward a 10-year investment framework