May 19, 2025

expert reaction to Government setting new ten-year budgets for R&D funding

Scientists comment on DSIT setting new 10 year budgets for R&D funding.

Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, UKRI CEO, said:

“We welcome the new guidance issued today by the Science Minister, Lord Vallance, which enables long-term, ten-year funding for certain research and development  activities.

“We will continue to work closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to ensure this is implemented wherever it can deliver the greatest impact.”

John-Arne Røttingen, Chief Executive of Wellcome, said:

“The UK has long been a global leader in R&D and staying at the forefront requires ambitious and sustainable investment over the long-term. Making progress on critical challenges, such as antimicrobial resistance and mental health, won’t happen overnight. We welcome the government’s long-term commitment to supporting science and scientific infrastructures. This will unlock R&D for breakthrough discovery science and research with potential to improve and save lives both in the UK and beyond.”

Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:

“Good science can take time, the pay-off can be decades later. That is why investing in research has to be a long game. The Government recommitting to the principle of ten year cycles of public investment is very welcome. It provides stability to those doing the research and shows businesses that the UK is a reliable place to invest. We look forward to seeing the details.”

Professor Andrew Morris CBE FRSE PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said:

“The Government’s commitment to 10-year R&D funding budgets represents a positive and strategic shift that the Academy has long advocated for. The principles of this approach can provide the stability needed for breakthrough health research and innovation, potentially transforming our ability to tackle complex challenges from antimicrobial resistance to developing the next generation of medical technologies. 

“We are particularly pleased to see the criteria focus on attracting global talent, supporting partnerships and fostering international collaboration, which are essential to maintaining the UK’s position as a world leader in medical science. Building sustainable research careers, collaborative networks and creative public-private partnerships takes time, and this long-term approach acknowledges this reality. 

“We look forward to learning more specific details in the coming weeks, including how this funding will be sourced and allocated across health research. Overall, this announcement marks a positive step towards improving the conditions for the life sciences sector to drive both better health outcomes and economic growth.” 

Prof Sir John Hardy, Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, said:

“Long term certainty over science budgets would be an enormous help in planning research projects. Too often the vicissitudes of annual budget shifts have damaged scientific progress. Boom and bust destroys research progress.”

‘Government to set new ten-year budgets for R&D funding’ was published at 00:01 UK time on Monday 19th May. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-set-new-ten-year-budgets-for-rd-funding

 Declared interests

The nature of this story means everyone quoted above could be perceived to have a stake in it. As such, our policy is not to ask for interests to be declared – instead, they are implicit in each person’s affiliation.