UK Research and Development Roadmap
The government’s Research and Development (R&D) Roadmap sets out the UK’s vision and ambition for science, research and innovation.
Yesterday (1Jul) the UK government announced the creation of the Office for Talent and a set of initiatives aimed at boosting skills to support economic recovery, as well as a £300m investment package to upgrade scientific infrastructure.
Business secretary, Alok Sharma said: “the R&D Roadmap sets out our plan to attract global talent, cut unnecessary red tape and ensure our best minds get the support they need to solve the biggest challenges of our time”.
Jason Fowler, HR Director at Fujitsu UK&I, said:
“With science and technology having an undeniable impact on our personal and professional lives, it’s hugely promising to see that the UK government is looking to accelerate innovation. R&D allows businesses to identify the factors that help to improve innovation, such as closing the productivity gap and the transformative potential of new technologies. However. if we’re to see organisations fully embrace and unlock the opportunities that are available thanks to the likes of automation and other emerging technologies, collaboration between technology organisations, central government and education institutions will be key. All must come together to ensure the country is properly prepared and equipped with the right knowledge and skills.
“For the UK to remain at the heart of science and technology, organisations must be at the front of the pack for driving innovation in this space. After all, innovation has the potential to be truly transformative, empowering businesses and enabling them to thrive in a digital world.”
The government’s long-term objectives for research and development (R&D) are clear: to be a science superpower and invest in the science and research that will deliver economic growth and societal benefits across the UK for decades to come, and to build the foundations for the new industries of tomorrow. This was supported by the unprecedented commitment at the Budget to increase public investment in R&D to £22 billion by 2024 to 2025.
The Roadmap marks the start of a conversation to identify:
- the strengths and challenges facing the sector
- the issues that need to be addressed
- how we want to work with universities, business, the third sector and across government to cement the UK’s reputation as a science superpower
R&D will be critical to a swift economic and social recovery from the impacts of COVID-19, for a greener, healthier and more resilient UK. BEIS goal is to further strengthen science, research and innovation across the UK, making them central to tackling the major challenges we face, including achieving net zero carbon emissions, building resilience to the impacts of climate change, closing the productivity gap and embracing the transformative potential of new technologies to improve the quality of life.
Online survey
This Roadmap is the start of a big conversation on what actions need to be taken and how. This plan will only be effective if it is developed with people and organisations across the UK. BEIS welcome responses to our online survey about research and development.
Documents
UK Research and Development Roadmap
PDF, 2.85MB, 60 pages
Responses