The Prime Minister and the Chancellor have clearly indicated their commitment to the UK’s world-leading science sector and its ability to drive economic recovery, so we are dismayed to uncover evidence of widespread disinvestment in science across government. Since 2009/10 the total R&D expenditure has seen a reduction of £856m to its lowest level in real terms since 2001/02.
In 2012, CaSE analysis of budget changes between 2009/10 and 2010/11 found evidence that many departments under financial pressure reduced R&D more than other spending. This analysis by CaSE of figures for 2010/11 and 2011/12, reported in the Financial Times, shows that Whitehall’s R&D expenditure has been slashed by £856 million since 2009-10, with many departments seeing year on year cuts to R&D.
CaSE departmental R&D Analysis 2014
Download ReportRelated resources
UK business expenditure on R&D has fallen for 2 years
13 December 2024
ONS data shows that expenditure on research and development (R&D) performed by UK businesses was £49.97 billion in 2023.
CaSE responds to the 2024 Autumn Budget
31 October 2024
In the first Labour Government budget for 14 years, Chancellor Rachel Reeves made a series of announcements as part of the Autumn Budget 2024. Below we delve into some of the measures impacting R&D.
Times letter: Science budget cuts
21 October 2024
CaSE and the Science Media Centre coordinated a letter to The Times from eminent figures in UK research and development expressing concerns about potential cuts to the R&D budget.
Sector calls on the Government to protect R&D funds in the autumn budget
18 October 2024
CaSE has published a joint letter with other R&D organisations, calling on the Chancellor to use the upcoming autumn budget to commit to continued investment in R&D.