The briefing includes quotes from key figures including the politicians, research leaders, and economists:
David Cameron, April 2010, BBC Pre-election Debate“We’ve been losing manufacturing industry faster than the 1980s. It’s been a complete tragedy. We’ve got to rebuild… Let’s start with investing in our science base.”
Jonathan Haskel, Imperial College Business School, The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research. Science and Technology Committee, March 2010“If support for research councils was cut by £1 billion from its current £3 billion, GDP would fall by around £10 billion.”
Securing Our Future with Science and Engineering
Download ReportRelated resources
Conservative Party plans highlight the shifting political landscape for UK R&D
30 April 2026
Conservative Party have presented a defence policy proposal that includes a reduction of UKRI funding by £2 billion per year. CaSE has looked at this proposal and what it indicates about the wider position of R&D in public policy.
Julia Lopez MP reply to CaSE letter on Conservative defence R&D plans
30 April 2026
CaSE has received a reply to our letter to the Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Julia Lopez MP, which asked for clarity surrounding their policy position that would see a reduction of UKRI funding by £2 billion per year.
An update on UKRI’s funding changes
30 April 2026
A recap of the updates and discussions surrounding the new UKRI budget framework and a summary of the latest dialogue between UKRI and the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.
Government R&D expenditure grows as the balance shifts
22 April 2026
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published the latest Government Expenditure on R&D (GovERD) statistics for 2024, which provide estimates of R&D performed in and funded by UK government departments and the devolved administrations.