The below letter was sent on 30 May 2024 to:

• Mr Rishi Sunak – Prime Minister and Leader of Conservative Party

Dear Prime Minister, 

At this election voters will be considering how best to meet the challenges we face as a country in the coming years. Investment in research and innovation is essential for the future of the UK’s economic prosperity, well-being, and global competitiveness.  

We are the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), the UK’s leading independent advocate for science and engineering and we are asking you to articulate and champion the Conservative Party’s ambition for the UK’s scientific future and set out the policies to achieve this in the run up to the General Election. 

CaSE members include over 110 scientific organisations including businesses, universities, professional bodies, and research charities as well as individual scientists and engineers across the UK. Collectively our members employ over 336,000 people in the UK, and our industry and charity members invest around £32.2bn a year globally in R&D. 

Our research has shown that the public feel confident in their understanding of economic growth and naturally link this to R&D investment and 63% say they would like to vote for someone who will support R&D in the UK¹. The majority (70%) think it is important for the Government to invest in R&D². People – regardless of who they plan to vote for – want to see politicians pay more attention to science and innovation and prioritise funding research. 

You clearly see the value of research and innovation to the UK economy and to solving the challenges facing society, stating that you want to “make science and technology our new national purpose.” The Government has made repeated and welcome commitments to increase R&D investment, including the commitment to spend £20 billion on R&D annually by 2024/25. CaSE urges the Conservative Party to press ahead with placing research and innovation at the heart of the UK’s future, and delivering the improvements to lives and livelihoods that it offers.  

Working with our members over the last few months we have drawn up the following four actions we ask you to make to support research and development. Alongside these actions, we have issued a joint statement with other leaders of the UK R&D sector of our united position on the importance of R&D for the UK. 

1. Commit to a long-term plan for R&D investment, and set a target to be a leading country globally 

A stable and predictable plan, supported by sustained investment, is vital to help research and innovation thrive in a way that drive economic growth and prosperity across the UK. Furthermore, the financial sustainability of the research system is vital to the future success of research and innovation in the UK. Our universities are a national asset and play a pivotal role in the research and innovation landscape through their teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities. To deliver their role in the R&D ecosystem effectively, universities must be supported to achieve a sustainable financial model across both their teaching and research activities. 

2. Unlock skills for a more research-intensive economy 

To support the UK’s future research base will require attracting more young people to consider a career in R&D, increasing flexibility and widening routes into R&D careers, and supporting a more diverse R&D workforce across all roles and stages. Therefore, the UK government and devolved administrations must support and coordinate a more integrated skills system to build a long-term and sustainable supply of skilled R&D talent. Furthermore, it is critical that the immigration and visa system, and associated costs, do not act as a barrier to attracting the most talented scientists and researchers to the UK.  

3. Build on and leverage regional strengths in R&D 

Investing in regional R&D can play a significant role in delivering a more research-intensive UK and create opportunities for new jobs and industries across all parts of the UK. There should be action to strengthen local innovation ecosystems and improve regional absorptive capacity for research and innovation. This should include providing regions with the funding and the freedom to enact effective policies at a local level, as well as supporting regions to market their strengths and capabilities to attract inward investment. 

4. Drive business investment in R&D 

Ensuring business R&D investment continues to rise is vital if the UK is to achieve its research intensity ambitions. Evidence shows that businesses are an essential component of the research ecosystem, funding nearly three-quarters of the UK’s R&D in total. The UK Government must use all the levers available to create and enable an environment that incentivises businesses to invest in R&D in the UK. This should happen within the context of a long-term, predictable and strategic framework. 

Your Party’s policies on research and innovation 

The public also contribute to and benefit from science and engineering. Therefore, we would like to publish your written response to the questions below. 

How will your Party:  

1. Invest at a level, and in such a way, as to enhance the UK’s research and innovation environment?  

2. Ensure that Universities are sustainably funded across all their research and teaching activities? 

3. Ensure the UK has an immigration system that supports research and innovation, and can attract the most talented researchers?  

4. Maintain and build on the UK’s leadership and collaboration in research and innovation internationally? 

5. Strengthen local innovation ecosystems and support regions to enact effective local policies for R&D? 

6. Use all the levers it can to support a competitive and attractive environment for R&D-led businesses? 

The UK Government is guardian of a world-leading research base. CaSE wants to see the next Government investing in and developing this national asset well into the future. With your political support, research and innovation will continue to make a fundamental, wide-ranging and valuable contribution to our economy and society. 

We look forward to receiving your response. We would be delighted to work with you to inform and develop your party’s research and innovation policies over the next Parliamentary term.  

Yours sincerely, 

Dr Alicia Greated 

Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering 

The below letter was sent on 30 May 2024 to:

• Sir Keir Stamer – Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party

Dear Sir Keir, 

At this election voters will be considering how best to meet the challenges we face as a country in the coming years. Investment in research and innovation is essential for the future of the UK’s economic prosperity, well-being, and global competitiveness.  

We are the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), the UK’s leading independent advocate for science and engineering and we are asking you to articulate and champion the Labour Party’s ambition for the UK’s scientific future and set out the policies to achieve this in the run up to the General Election. 

CaSE members include over 110 scientific organisations including businesses, universities, professional bodies, and research charities as well as individual scientists and engineers across the UK. Collectively our members employ over 336,000 people in the UK, and our industry and charity members invest around £32.2bn a year globally in R&D. 

Our research has shown that the public feel confident in their understanding of economic growth and naturally link this to R&D investment and 63% say they would like to vote for someone who will support R&D in the UK¹. The majority (70%) think it is important for the Government to invest in R&D². People – regardless of who they plan to vote for – want to see politicians pay more attention to science and innovation and prioritise funding research. 

The Labour Party has a strong history of support for investment in research and innovation, most recently expressed in its proposals to set long-term, 10-year public spending budgets and the life sciences sector plan. Research and innovation will be vital to achieving Labour’s long-term national missions, including its ambitions for economic growth and prosperity. 

Investment in R&D improves people’s lives and livelihoods, creating new jobs and future industries, new educational opportunities, and the economic growth that will pay for our local and public services and strengthen our communities. 

But these benefits aren’t inevitable and Government action is needed to realise them. 

All our members believe it is essential that the next UK Government commits to using research and development as the route to improving people’s lives and livelihoods. Working with our members over the last few months we have drawn up the following four actions we ask you to make to support research and development. Alongside these actions, we have issued a joint statement with other leaders of the UK R&D sector of our united position on the importance of R&D for the UK. 

1. Commit to a long-term plan for R&D investment, and set a target to be a leading country globally 

A stable and predictable plan, supported by sustained investment, is vital to help research and innovation thrive in a way that drive economic growth and prosperity across the UK. Furthermore, the financial sustainability of the research system is vital to the future success of research and innovation in the UK. Our universities are a national asset and play a pivotal role in the research and innovation landscape through their teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities. To deliver their role in the R&D ecosystem effectively, universities must be supported to achieve a sustainable financial model across both their teaching and research activities. 

2. Unlock skills for a more research-intensive economy 

To support the UK’s future research base will require attracting more young people to consider a career in R&D, increasing flexibility and widening routes into R&D careers, and supporting a more diverse R&D workforce across all roles and stages. Therefore, the UK government and devolved administrations must support and coordinate a more integrated skills system to build a long-term and sustainable supply of skilled R&D talent. Furthermore, it is critical that the immigration and visa system, and associated costs, do not act as a barrier to attracting the most talented scientists and researchers to the UK.  

3. Build on and leverage regional strengths in R&D 

Investing in regional R&D can play a significant role in delivering a more research-intensive UK and create opportunities for new jobs and industries across all parts of the UK. There should be action to strengthen local innovation ecosystems and improve regional absorptive capacity for research and innovation. This should include providing regions with the funding and the freedom to enact effective policies at a local level, as well as supporting regions to market their strengths and capabilities to attract inward investment. 

4. Drive business investment in R&D 

Ensuring business R&D investment continues to rise is vital if the UK is to achieve its research intensity ambitions. Evidence shows that businesses are an essential component of the research ecosystem, funding nearly three-quarters of the UK’s R&D in total. The UK Government must use all the levers available to create and enable an environment that incentivises businesses to invest in R&D in the UK. This should happen within the context of a long-term, predictable and strategic framework. 

Your Party’s policies on research and innovation 

The public also contribute to and benefit from science and engineering. Therefore, we would like to publish your written response to the questions below. 

How will your Party:  

1. Invest at a level, and in such a way, as to enhance the UK’s research and innovation environment?  

2. Ensure that Universities are sustainably funded across all their research and teaching activities? 

3. Ensure the UK has an immigration system that supports research and innovation, and can attract the most talented researchers?  

4. Maintain and build on the UK’s leadership and collaboration in research and innovation internationally? 

5. Strengthen local innovation ecosystems and support regions to enact effective local policies for R&D? 

6. Use all the levers it can to support a competitive and attractive environment for R&D-led businesses? 

The UK Government is guardian of a world-leading research base. CaSE wants to see the next Government investing in and developing this national asset well into the future. With your political support, research and innovation will continue to make a fundamental, wide-ranging and valuable contribution to our economy and society. 

We look forward to receiving your response. We would be delighted to work with you to inform and develop your party’s research and innovation policies over the next Parliamentary term.  

Yours sincerely, 

Dr Alicia Greated 

Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering 

The below letter was sent on 30 May 2024 to:

• Mr John Swinney MSP – Leader, Scottish National Party

Dear Mr Swinney, 

At this election voters will be considering how best to meet the challenges we face as a country in the coming years. Investment in research and innovation is essential for the future of the UK’s economic prosperity, well-being, and global competitiveness.  

We are the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), the UK’s leading independent advocate for science and engineering and we are asking you to articulate and champion the Scottish National Party’s ambition for the UK’s scientific future and set out the policies to achieve this in the run up to the General Election. 

CaSE members include over 110 scientific organisations including businesses, universities, professional bodies, and research charities as well as individual scientists and engineers across the UK. Collectively our members employ over 336,000 people in the UK, and our industry and charity members invest around £32.2bn a year globally in R&D. 

Our research has shown that the public feel confident in their understanding of economic growth and naturally link this to R&D investment and 63% say they would like to vote for someone who will support R&D in the UK¹. The majority (70%) think it is important for the Government to invest in R&D². People – regardless of who they plan to vote for – want to see politicians pay more attention to science and innovation and prioritise funding research. 

Scotland has a proud history of science and engineering and the SNP has recognised the importance of University research in Scotland and improving STEM skills to strengthen the economy. Scotland’s Higher Education sector punches above its weight, boasting two universities in the world’s top 100 and is second to London in receiving public R&D investment per capita in the UK.  

Investment in R&D improves people’s lives and livelihoods, creating new jobs and future industries, new educational opportunities, and the economic growth that will pay for our local and public services and strengthen our communities. 

But these benefits aren’t inevitable and Government action is needed to realise them. 

All our members believe it is essential that the next UK Government commits to using research and development as the route to improving people’s lives and livelihoods. Working with our members over the last few months we have drawn up the following four actions we ask you to make to support research and development. Alongside these actions, we have issued a joint statement with other leaders of the UK R&D sector of our united position on the importance of R&D for the UK. 

1. Commit to a long-term plan for R&D investment, and set a target to be a leading country globally 

A stable and predictable plan, supported by sustained investment, is vital to help research and innovation thrive in a way that drive economic growth and prosperity across the UK. Furthermore, the financial sustainability of the research system is vital to the future success of research and innovation in the UK. Our universities are a national asset and play a pivotal role in the research and innovation landscape through their teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities. To deliver their role in the R&D ecosystem effectively, universities must be supported to achieve a sustainable financial model across both their teaching and research activities. 

2. Unlock skills for a more research-intensive economy 

To support the UK’s future research base will require attracting more young people to consider a career in R&D, increasing flexibility and widening routes into R&D careers, and supporting a more diverse R&D workforce across all roles and stages. Therefore, the UK government and devolved administrations must support and coordinate a more integrated skills system to build a long-term and sustainable supply of skilled R&D talent. Furthermore, it is critical that the immigration and visa system, and associated costs, do not act as a barrier to attracting the most talented scientists and researchers to the UK.  

3. Build on and leverage regional strengths in R&D 

Investing in regional R&D can play a significant role in delivering a more research-intensive UK and create opportunities for new jobs and industries across all parts of the UK. There should be action to strengthen local innovation ecosystems and improve regional absorptive capacity for research and innovation. This should include providing regions with the funding and the freedom to enact effective policies at a local level, as well as supporting regions to market their strengths and capabilities to attract inward investment. 

4. Drive business investment in R&D 

Ensuring business R&D investment continues to rise is vital if the UK is to achieve its research intensity ambitions. Evidence shows that businesses are an essential component of the research ecosystem, funding nearly three-quarters of the UK’s R&D in total. The UK Government must use all the levers available to create and enable an environment that incentivises businesses to invest in R&D in the UK. This should happen within the context of a long-term, predictable and strategic framework. 

Your Party’s policies on research and innovation 

The public also contribute to and benefit from science and engineering. Therefore, we would like to publish your written response to the questions below. 

How will your Party:  

1. Invest at a level, and in such a way, as to enhance the UK’s research and innovation environment?  

2. Ensure that Universities are sustainably funded across all their research and teaching activities? 

3. Ensure the UK has an immigration system that supports research and innovation, and can attract the most talented researchers?  

4. Maintain and build on the UK’s leadership and collaboration in research and innovation internationally? 

5. Strengthen local innovation ecosystems and support regions to enact effective local policies for R&D? 

6. Use all the levers it can to support a competitive and attractive environment for R&D-led businesses? 

The UK Government is guardian of a world-leading research base. CaSE wants to see the next Government investing in and developing this national asset well into the future. With your political support, research and innovation will continue to make a fundamental, wide-ranging and valuable contribution to our economy and society. 

We look forward to receiving your response. We would be delighted to work with you to inform and develop your party’s research and innovation policies over the next Parliamentary term.  

Yours sincerely, 

Dr Alicia Greated 

Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering 

The below letter was sent on 30 May 2024 to:

• Sir Ed Davey – Leader, Liberal Democrats

Dear Sir Ed, 

At this election voters will be considering how best to meet the challenges we face as a country in the coming years. Investment in research and innovation is essential for the future of the UK’s economic prosperity, well-being, and global competitiveness.  

We are the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), the UK’s leading independent advocate for science and engineering and we are asking you to articulate and champion the Liberal Democrats’ ambition for the UK’s scientific future and set out the policies to achieve this in the run up to the General Election. 

CaSE members include over 110 scientific organisations including businesses, universities, professional bodies, and research charities as well as individual scientists and engineers across the UK. Collectively our members employ over 336,000 people in the UK, and our industry and charity members invest around £32.2bn a year globally in R&D. 

Our research has shown that the public feel confident in their understanding of economic growth and naturally link this to R&D investment and 63% say they would like to vote for someone who will support R&D in the UK¹. The majority (70%) think it is important for the Government to invest in R&D². People – regardless of who they plan to vote for – want to see politicians pay more attention to science and innovation and prioritise funding research. 

The Liberal Democrats have long recognised the importance of research and innovation for the benefit of the UK economy and society. Your 2019 manifesto committed to “increase national spending on research and development to 3% of GDP” and to enable an environment that incentivises continued investment in UK innovation. 

Investment in R&D improves people’s lives and livelihoods, creating new jobs and future industries, new educational opportunities, and the economic growth that will pay for our local and public services and strengthen our communities. 

But these benefits aren’t inevitable and Government action is needed to realise them. 

All our members believe it is essential that the next UK Government commits to using research and development as the route to improving people’s lives and livelihoods. Working with our members over the last few months we have drawn up the following four actions we ask you to make to support research and development. Alongside these actions, we have issued a joint statement with other leaders of the UK R&D sector of our united position on the importance of R&D for the UK. 

1. Commit to a long-term plan for R&D investment, and set a target to be a leading country globally 

A stable and predictable plan, supported by sustained investment, is vital to help research and innovation thrive in a way that drive economic growth and prosperity across the UK. Furthermore, the financial sustainability of the research system is vital to the future success of research and innovation in the UK. Our universities are a national asset and play a pivotal role in the research and innovation landscape through their teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities. To deliver their role in the R&D ecosystem effectively, universities must be supported to achieve a sustainable financial model across both their teaching and research activities. 

2. Unlock skills for a more research-intensive economy 

To support the UK’s future research base will require attracting more young people to consider a career in R&D, increasing flexibility and widening routes into R&D careers, and supporting a more diverse R&D workforce across all roles and stages. Therefore, the UK government and devolved administrations must support and coordinate a more integrated skills system to build a long-term and sustainable supply of skilled R&D talent. Furthermore, it is critical that the immigration and visa system, and associated costs, do not act as a barrier to attracting the most talented scientists and researchers to the UK.  

3. Build on and leverage regional strengths in R&D 

Investing in regional R&D can play a significant role in delivering a more research-intensive UK and create opportunities for new jobs and industries across all parts of the UK. There should be action to strengthen local innovation ecosystems and improve regional absorptive capacity for research and innovation. This should include providing regions with the funding and the freedom to enact effective policies at a local level, as well as supporting regions to market their strengths and capabilities to attract inward investment. 

4. Drive business investment in R&D 

Ensuring business R&D investment continues to rise is vital if the UK is to achieve its research intensity ambitions. Evidence shows that businesses are an essential component of the research ecosystem, funding nearly three-quarters of the UK’s R&D in total. The UK Government must use all the levers available to create and enable an environment that incentivises businesses to invest in R&D in the UK. This should happen within the context of a long-term, predictable and strategic framework. 

Your Party’s policies on research and innovation 

The public also contribute to and benefit from science and engineering. Therefore, we would like to publish your written response to the questions below. 

How will your Party:  

1. Invest at a level, and in such a way, as to enhance the UK’s research and innovation environment?  

2. Ensure that Universities are sustainably funded across all their research and teaching activities? 

3. Ensure the UK has an immigration system that supports research and innovation, and can attract the most talented researchers?  

4. Maintain and build on the UK’s leadership and collaboration in research and innovation internationally? 

5. Strengthen local innovation ecosystems and support regions to enact effective local policies for R&D? 

6. Use all the levers it can to support a competitive and attractive environment for R&D-led businesses? 

The UK Government is guardian of a world-leading research base. CaSE wants to see the next Government investing in and developing this national asset well into the future. With your political support, research and innovation will continue to make a fundamental, wide-ranging and valuable contribution to our economy and society. 

We look forward to receiving your response. We would be delighted to work with you to inform and develop your party’s research and innovation policies over the next Parliamentary term.  

Yours sincerely, 

Dr Alicia Greated 

Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering 

The below letter was sent on 30 May 2024 to:

• Mr Alex Salmond – Alba Party
• Ms Naomi Long MLA – Alliance Party
• Mr Gavin Robinson – DUP
• Ms Carla Denyer and Mr Adrian Ramsay – Green Party
• Mr Rhun ap lorwerth MS – Plaid Cymru
• Mr Richard Tice – Reform UK
• Mr Colum Eastwood – SDLP
• Ms Michelle O’Neill MLA – Sinn Fein
• Mr George Galloway – Workers Party of Britain

At this election voters will be considering how best to meet the challenges we face as a country in the coming years. Investment in research and innovation is essential for the future of the UK’s economic prosperity, well-being, and global competitiveness.  

We are the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), the UK’s leading independent advocate for science and engineering and we are asking you to articulate and champion the Reform UK Party’s ambition for the UK’s scientific future and set out the policies to achieve this in the run up to the General Election. 

CaSE members include over 110 scientific organisations including businesses, universities, professional bodies, and research charities as well as individual scientists and engineers across the UK. Collectively our members employ over 336,000 people in the UK, and our industry and charity members invest around £32.2bn a year globally in R&D. 

Our research has shown that the public feel confident in their understanding of economic growth and naturally link this to R&D investment and 63% say they would like to vote for someone who will support R&D in the UK¹. The majority (70%) think it is important for the Government to invest in R&D². People – regardless of who they plan to vote for – want to see politicians pay more attention to science and innovation and prioritise funding research. 

Investment in R&D improves people’s lives and livelihoods, creating new jobs and future industries, new educational opportunities, and the economic growth that will pay for our local and public services and strengthen our communities. 

But these benefits aren’t inevitable and Government action is needed to realise them. 

All our members believe it is essential that the next UK Government commits to using research and development as the route to improving people’s lives and livelihoods. Working with our members over the last few months we have drawn up the following four actions we ask you to make to support research and development. Alongside these actions, we have issued a joint statement with other leaders of the UK R&D sector of our united position on the importance of R&D for the UK. 

1. Commit to a long-term plan for R&D investment, and set a target to be a leading country globally 

A stable and predictable plan, supported by sustained investment, is vital to help research and innovation thrive in a way that drive economic growth and prosperity across the UK. Furthermore, the financial sustainability of the research system is vital to the future success of research and innovation in the UK. Our universities are a national asset and play a pivotal role in the research and innovation landscape through their teaching, research and knowledge exchange activities. To deliver their role in the R&D ecosystem effectively, universities must be supported to achieve a sustainable financial model across both their teaching and research activities. 

2. Unlock skills for a more research-intensive economy 

To support the UK’s future research base will require attracting more young people to consider a career in R&D, increasing flexibility and widening routes into R&D careers, and supporting a more diverse R&D workforce across all roles and stages. Therefore, the UK government and devolved administrations must support and coordinate a more integrated skills system to build a long-term and sustainable supply of skilled R&D talent. Furthermore, it is critical that the immigration and visa system, and associated costs, do not act as a barrier to attracting the most talented scientists and researchers to the UK.  

3. Build on and leverage regional strengths in R&D 

Investing in regional R&D can play a significant role in delivering a more research-intensive UK and create opportunities for new jobs and industries across all parts of the UK. There should be action to strengthen local innovation ecosystems and improve regional absorptive capacity for research and innovation. This should include providing regions with the funding and the freedom to enact effective policies at a local level, as well as supporting regions to market their strengths and capabilities to attract inward investment. 

4. Drive business investment in R&D 

Ensuring business R&D investment continues to rise is vital if the UK is to achieve its research intensity ambitions. Evidence shows that businesses are an essential component of the research ecosystem, funding nearly three-quarters of the UK’s R&D in total. The UK Government must use all the levers available to create and enable an environment that incentivises businesses to invest in R&D in the UK. This should happen within the context of a long-term, predictable and strategic framework. 

Your Party’s policies on research and innovation 

The public also contribute to and benefit from science and engineering. Therefore, we would like to publish your written response to the questions below. 

How will your Party:  

1. Invest at a level, and in such a way, as to enhance the UK’s research and innovation environment?  

2. Ensure that Universities are sustainably funded across all their research and teaching activities? 

3. Ensure the UK has an immigration system that supports research and innovation, and can attract the most talented researchers?  

4. Maintain and build on the UK’s leadership and collaboration in research and innovation internationally? 

5. Strengthen local innovation ecosystems and support regions to enact effective local policies for R&D? 

6. Use all the levers it can to support a competitive and attractive environment for R&D-led businesses? 

The UK Government is guardian of a world-leading research base. CaSE wants to see the next Government investing in and developing this national asset well into the future. With your political support, research and innovation will continue to make a fundamental, wide-ranging and valuable contribution to our economy and society. 

We look forward to receiving your response. We would be delighted to work with you to inform and develop your party’s research and innovation policies over the next Parliamentary term.  

Yours sincerely, 

Dr Alicia Greated 

Executive Director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering