Initial response to 2024 Autumn Budget
30 Oct 2024
I am pleased to hear such positive support for UK R&D and innovation from the Chancellor, and recognition that, if supported, it will drive economic growth. We also know the public care about this, with 70% of people saying it is important for the Government to invest in R&D. Seeing this reflected by Government is unequivocally a good thing.
Beyond the positive intent, it is the detail we must now turn to. It is reassuring to hear pledges to protect core R&D funding and to increase DSIT’s R&D budget, but it will take time to unpack and understand what this means in practice. We look forward to receiving more detail about DSIT’s budget allocations to enable us to build a fuller picture of the changes announced.
Following further analysis and conversations, we understand that, based on the increase to the DSIT R&D budget, the worst case of a significant cut to other R&D investment following a ‘tuck under’ of Horizon Europe association costs will not materialise.
This is good news for the R&D sector, and fantastic result for our advocacy efforts over recent weeks. However, we won’t know the full picture until we get sight of the complete DSIT spending allocations in the coming months.
CaSE will publish a more detailed analysis of the Budget tomorrow.
Related press
The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), in collaboration with 30 other leaders and representatives of the UK R&D sector, are issuing this joint statement calling for the UK to be a leading country in the G7 on R&D investment and stating our united position on the importance of R&D for the UK.
A major new collaboration between the British Academy and the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) will provide up-to-date, robust and creative analyses of the economic returns of the UK research base.
CaSE’s initial response to the Chancellor’s 2024 Spring Budget given on 6th March.
Today the Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT) have published their proposed alternative to Horizon Europe, Pioneer.