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Public Attitudes to R&D in Scotland 2026

08 Jul 2026

This briefing summarises attitudes to R&D in Scotland. It is based on evidence from a nationally representative survey of 2,707 adults (16+) in Scotland in January 2026. Full results can be found on CaSE’s Public Opinion Research pages.

Key points include:

  • Opinions are divided on how well Scotland is doing and on immigration
  • Public awareness of, and connection with, Scottish R&D’s benefits is low
  • Most people value public R&D investment, would be proud of local R&D and support their Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) taking action on it