The Campaign for Science and Engineering’s (CaSE’s) latest report ‘Mission critical R&D: How R&D can support delivery of the UK Government’s priorities’ sets out the vital role of R&D in tackling some of our most pressing global and national issues and how it is instrumental in helping the UK Government meet its objectives across all its missions.
CaSE propose a series of measures that the UK Government should take to support the R&D sector to deliver this role. We also highlight actions that the R&D sector itself should take to better communicate to policymakers and the public the value of R&D to the missions.
Evidence gathered in support of this report includes views from the breadth of CaSE’s membership, and insights from a nationally representative poll of public attitudes to the UK Government’s missions and R&D’s role in them (CaSE Public Attitudes to R&D and the UK Government’s missions, September 2024; 3,258 UK adults).
Mission Critical R&D
How R&D can support delivery of the UK Government’s priorities
Read the full reportRecommendations for Government
Despite the strength and promise of UK R&D to deliver the missions, the R&D sector faces challenges. We propose a range of solutions that will help to address these:
- Commit to a long-term plan for R&D
- Maintain a broad and balanced R&D base
- Fix the fundamentals of the R&D system
- Invest in regional capacity building for R&D
- Drive adoption and uptake of innovation
Recommendations for the R&D sector
Although a majority of the public think the Government should use R&D as a tool to achieve its missions, it is not completely clear to people how investing in R&D can help achieve these goals. The following actions should be taken by the R&D sector to better communicate to policymakers and the public how R&D can help tackle society’s problems and help the Government achieve its ambitions:
- Emphasise both the short-term and long-term benefits of R&D to policymakers
- Articulate to policymakers how existing, interdisciplinary R&D supports the missions
- Highlight the diversity of R&D that supports the missions at a local level
- Champion diverse voices and messengers from the R&D sector
- Embed and innovate ways of involving and engaging the public with mission-led R&D
CaSE Public Attitudes to R&D and the Government’s Missions 2024
The role of R&D in achieving the UK Government’s missions is recognised by the public.
Public opinion polling of 3,258 UK adults on attitudes to R&D and the UK Government missions was carried out for CaSE by Public First in September 2024. The full results of this research are published today (Wednesday 26th February) by CaSE in support of our Mission Critical R&D report.
CaSE’s public attitudes research showed that a majority (72%) think the Government should use R&D as a tool to achieve its missions. In addition, for each mission tested, more people supported investing in an R&D-based approach to achieve its ambitions than supported cutting R&D investment to spend the money on a non-R&D solution.
When asked directly, a majority said R&D had an essential or important role to play in mission-oriented goals, especially for the economy, NHS & energy missions. However, for the economy, NHS & clean energy missions, although more than 50% said it was clear how investing in R&D would help, around 30% still said it is not clear. This reinforces CaSE’s recommendations for the R&D sector to better communicate to policymakers and the public how R&D can help tackle society’s problems and help the Government achieve its ambitions.
Commenting on the report and accompanying public opinion research:
“R&D, when supported and applied effectively, is vital for the UK Government to achieve its ambitions and deliver on its missions. The evidence CaSE has gathered in this report demonstrates a clear path that can be taken to allow UK R&D to reach its potential, and actions we, the R&D sector, can take to play our part in this joint endeavour.”
Dr Alicia Greated
Executive Director, CaSE
“CaSE’s unique position and expertise have allowed us to draw together insights from the breadth of our membership and combine these with rigorously gathered public opinion research. These two strands together create a thread that connects R&D to the societal problems it can address.
“I hope that policy makers heed the recommendations set out in this report and make the most of the opportunity available to them.”
Dr Daniel Rathbone
Deputy Executive Director, CaSE
“While R&D is critical to achieving all the missions, this report demonstrates there is a clear opportunity to strengthen this role. This will require action from both the UK Government and the R&D sector.
“We urge the UK Government to support the R&D sector to maximise its potential. This includes providing a predictable policy environment; maintaining a broad R&D base; incentivising innovation; and addressing the sustainability and capacity of the sector. At the same time, the R&D sector needs to come together to better articulate the value of R&D to policymakers and the public.
“CaSE hopes that this report provides a framework others can use in their advocacy, and that together we can make a strong case for UK R&D.”
Dr Camilla d'Angelo
Policy Manager, CaSE
Notes
About the public opinion research
CaSE commissioned quantitative research in the form of a nationally representative poll of 3,258 UK adults, exploring attitudes to R&D and the UK Government’s missions. The poll was conducted online, from 13th-20th September 2024. CaSE also commissioned two focus groups held in December 2024.
All research was carried out by research agency Public First
About CaSE
The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) is the leading independent voice for UK R&D.
We are a charity supported by a diverse membership including businesses, universities, professional bodies, research charities and individuals. Our members span the whole breadth of R&D – including discovery research, science, engineering, and innovation across the public, private, and charitable sectors.
We collaborate with our members, partners and the public to lend our clear, expert voice to decisions about research and development. We specialise in developing non-partisan, responsive solutions that help research and innovation to thrive in ways that improve people’s lives and livelihoods.
Charity number: 1147492. Company number: 7807252.
This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust [222853/Z/21/]
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