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Information compiled by locations4business

The following overview of R&D in the UK has been provided by the UKTI.

R&D IN THE UK

The UK is one of the world’s leading locations for commercial and academic R&D. With world-class universities and research institutes involved in undertaking leading-edge R&D in all business sectors, many leading companies have already made considerable investment in R&D activities across the UK.

Indeed, the UK has the fifth highest concentration of the world’s top 1,000 international companies for R&D expenditure, including companies such as: Ford, Pfizer, Airbus, Eli Lilly, Eisai, Nokia, Roche, Syngenta, Shire and Nissan (Source: BIS, 2010).

Expenditure on R&D in the UK was £25.6 billion in 2008 (Source: ONS, 2010), with 62.1 per cent of R&D being undertaken by the private sector, 26.6 per cent undertaken by higher education, 5.1 per cent by the Government and 6.2 per cent from other sources. For further information, visit the government run website, Statistics. 

The strength of the UK R&D sector is highlighted in the fact that:

− the UK is ranked as having the second strongest research base in the world behind only the US (Source: Evidence, 2009),

− over 200 R&D investment projects were made by international companies in the UK in 2008/09,

− the UK produces 8 per cent of the world’s scientific papers and has a citation share of 12 per cent, second only to the US (Source: Evidence, 2009).

Foreign companies find the UK R&D environment highly attractive. For example:

- R&D undertaken in the UK that is funded by overseas sources (such as parent company funding or contracts with foreign companies) reached more than £3.7 billion in 2008. For further information, visit Statistics.

– overseas entities own 35.3 per cent of patents in the UK, compared to an average of 13.5 per cent across the European Union, 11.1 per cent in the US and 3.9 per cent in Japan (Source: OECD, 2009).

 

THE UK’S ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH EXCELLENCE

The UK has a long history of academic and research excellence – indeed, UK scientists and institutions have won over 80 Nobel Prizes for their scientific achievements.

The UK’s universities and research centres have an exceptional international reputation – four of the top six in the world are located in Britian (see table) - and are highly experienced in working closely with all parts of the private sector in undertaking leading-edge R&D. For further information, visit Universities UK. 

Global Rank, 2009

1 Harvard University (US)

2 University of Cambridge

3 Yale University (US)

4 University College London

5= Imperial College London

5= University of Oxford

20= University of Edinburgh

23 Kings College London

Source: Times Higher Education Supplement 2009

Research Councils are the main public investors in fundamental research in the UK and are tasked with co-ordinating research with universities. The seven UK Research Councils are:

a) Arts and Humanities Research Council

b) Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council

c) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

d) Economic and Social Research Council

e) Medical Research Council

f) Natural Environment Research Council

g) Science & Technology Facilities Council

Research Councils UK (RCUK) is a strategic partnership to promote science, engineering and technology. Through RCUK, the Research Councils work together to create a common framework for research, training and knowledge transfer.  

For a detailed breakdown of R&D spend in the UK, by sector, visit the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills website.