The Government must refocus the economy towards more R&D
intensive activity and view business as an integral partner of
the R&D system, the National Centre for Universities and
Business has said in response to the government’s
consultation on the Research
and Development (R&D) Roadmap.
Dr Joe Marshall, Chief Executive of
the NCUB, said: “The Government has rightly acknowledged that
research and development (R&D) is a key driver of growth. The
roadmap is comprehensive and ambitious, but to seize this once
in-a-generation-opportunity it is critical that businesses are
integral partners in, not just beneficiaries of, the research and
innovation system.
"Creating an innovative economy, as set out in the
government’s R&D Roadmap, and maximising the value of the
UK’s world-class research base, requires a fundamental refocus of
the UK’s economy. To achieve this, we need to attract more
R&D intensive businesses and investment, as well as
encouraging other businesses to become more innovative and
R&D focussed. Achieving the Government’s target to invest
2.4% of GDP into R&D requires businesses to invest an
estimated £18 billion pounds more each year in R&D than they
do today. This is a huge target, and to achieve it, we are
calling on the Government to view business as an integral part of
the R&D system.”
Marshall concluded: “The new
R&D roadmap is an exciting, ambitious and timely vision of a
better future driven by research and innovation, but there is
undoubtedly still more to be done here.
The forthcoming Government R&D plan and Comprehensive
Spending Review must take full account of the range of factors
that affect the operating environment of businesses, large and
small. This includes human, physical and financial capital,
regulation, fiscal policy, infrastructure and trade policy. In no
uncertain terms, if the UK is to bounce back from this recession,
we need to see an increase in innovation from our
businesses.”
NOTES TO
EDITORS
About the NCUB
The National Centre for Universities and
Business (NCUB) represents a collective voice of leaders across
higher education and business and aims to tackle issues of shared
interest. The NCUB is an independent and not-for-profit
membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports
university-business collaboration across the UK. The NCUB was
established in 2013.
Last month, the government published the
Research & Development (R&D) roadmap which articulates
the UK's vision and ambition for science, research and
innovation. NCUB has submitted a formal submission to Government
in response to the roadmap. The full response can be accessed
here.
