Response

MillionPlus response to BEIS R&D Roadmap consultation

24 Aug 2020

MillionPlus welcomes the publication of the UK government R&D Roadmap and the consultation by BEIS on the direction of travel proposed in the document.

The UK government’s commitment to invest 2.4% of GDP in research, development and innovation by 2027 must be delivered if we are to prosper in a post-Covid-19 economic and social environment. The Spending Review (assumed to be in autumn 2020) needs to set a clear trajectory for the UK to make swift progress towards the target by the end of the current parliament in late 2024, and even look to go beyond it and consider at least a 3% of GDP investment level. 

This submission sets out the strengths of modern universities as drivers of research and innovation across the UK. It echos the Roadmap’s broad view of the research and development landscape, fleshing out what we see at the proper scope of R&D support for universities and their partners in industry and the public services. The submission then suggests strong candidates for additional support via public investment in UK R&D and draws attention to the importance of the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund, as well as focusing on the critical importance of people in the research and innovation ecosystem.

Download MillionPlus response to BEIS RandD Roadmap consultation August 2020 »