Long-term research carried out at UK universities is the backbone of our world-leading science and technology ecosystem. To maintain this strength, the UK needs long-term, stable funding and strategy from government.
From making groundbreaking scientific and medical discoveries to creating the products and jobs of the future, university research makes a real difference to people’s lives.
A lack of long-term investment and planning in research and development means that we can no longer take universities’ activities for granted. UK universities lose £5 billion every year in delivering research, and without changes to our research funding system, the UK is at risk of losing its strategic and economic edge.
Recommendations
To ensure universities can continue to make new discoveries and develop solutions, universities need long-term, stable funding and strategy from the UK Government.
Without this, UK universities’ ability to do world-leading research and innovation will suffer, impacting our ability to drive growth and prosperity across the country.
Set a target for GDP invested in reseach and development by 2030 which matches the most innovative and competitive economies around the world.
Treat research and development as long-term capital investment through 10-year funding cycles to maximise the ability to secure private investment through increased certainty.
The UK’s universities are a success story and one of the UK’s greatest assets. We’re calling on political parties to commit to policies in their manifestos to help our universities continue to transform lives.
It’s well known that universities are central to training the next generation of teachers, nurses, engineers and entrepreneurs. Another often overlooked area of what UK universities do is research and innovation.
