British business and universities demand R&D be spared cuts
UK universities and business leaders have written to the government urging it make a fresh commitment to invest £20bn annually in research and development to safeguard Britain’s economic growth, after prime minister Rishi Sunak warned of “difficult decisions” ahead of next month’s Autumn Statement.
Universities UK, which represents the sector, along with technology group Siemens and Gatwick airport were among more than 100 business organisations, education leaders and individual researchers that have written to chancellor Jeremy Hunt urging him to protect R&D funding.
The letter, seen by the Financial Times, warned that a failure to invest in innovation would result in poorer productivity across the UK in the long run.
This story originally appeared on: Financial Times - Author:Bethan Staton
