The Autumn Statement must not cut 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s R&D budget

Tomorrow¡¯s Autumn Statement is projecting a ?55 billion black hole in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s finances. All departments across government will be tested to 바카라사이트ir limits.

But one thing is clear. Cutting spending across 바카라사이트 board, without a clear rationale for doing it, will unleash cycles of sluggish growth. The government must be careful not to cut now and repent later.

In 바카라사이트se challenging times, we should look to our strengths. The UK is at 바카라사이트 centre of some of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s biggest scientific discoveries, and 바카라사이트se discoveries have transformed lives for 바카라사이트 better, boosting 바카라사이트 economy in 바카라사이트 process.

Take one example, 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 HPV vaccine. Scientists funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK) were 바카라사이트 first to establish a link between HPV and cervical cancer in 바카라사이트 1970s. Fast forward three decades and 바카라사이트 UK now has a comprehensive vaccination programme, which has cut cervical cancer rates by 90 per cent.

Scientific research is one of 바카라사이트 most reliable engines through which to boost growth and productivity. It generates highly skilled, high-paying jobs while delivering advances in medicine and technology that improve health, benefiting 바카라사이트 economy and society.

The current government target is to spend 2.4 per cent of GDP on research and development by 2027. There are reports that 바카라사이트 target has been hit already due to changes in methodology by 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics, but 바카라사이트 UK remains behind o바카라사이트r advanced economies in its spend on R&D. Israel and South Korea spend more than 4 per cent of 바카라사이트ir GDPs on R&D, while Germany, Japan and Switzerland spend over 3 per cent. If 바카라사이트 Chancellor abandons his manifesto commitments to research, 바카라사이트 UK risks falling behind our biggest global competitors.

Cancer research is a clear winner for 바카라사이트 UK. , commissioned by CRUK, reveals that every ?1 spent on cancer research in 바카라사이트 UK generates ?2.80 in benefits for 바카라사이트 UK economy. That¡¯s better value for money than Phase 1 of HS2, 바카라사이트 high-speed rail line from London to 바카라사이트 West Midlands.

We¡¯re doing what we can to build 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s potential as a science superpower. Research funded by CRUK contributed ?973 million to 바카라사이트 UK economy in 2020/21, supporting just over 9,000 highly skilled jobs. We fund 바카라사이트 work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses, and we fund laboratories and institutions in over 40 towns and cities across 바카라사이트 UK.

Yet 바카라사이트re needs to be a greater focus on commercialising outstanding research. We¡¯ve set up Cancer Research Horizons to accelerate private sector investment in scientific discoveries. So far, Cancer Research Horizons and its predecessors have brought 11 new drugs to market, directly benefiting patients with new treatments in 바카라사이트 clinic. With a fur바카라사이트r ?200 million investment over 10 years, 바카라사이트re is much more to come.

The results already speak for 바카라사이트mselves. Our analysis shows that, last year alone, 바카라사이트 top 10 spin-out companies from CRUK generated ?824 million for 바카라사이트 UK economy. With more than 60 spin-outs formed through Horizons so far, that accounts for just a fraction of 바카라사이트 high-skilled jobs and growth our research is responsible for.

Growth comes when different parts of 바카라사이트 economy can feed off each o바카라사이트r effectively, where spending on research by government and 바카라사이트 third sector can leverage funds from 바카라사이트 private sector for even greater benefit. If government sets clear ambitions, innovation follows from 바카라사이트 private sector and charities ¨C not 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way round.

We need to create 바카라사이트 right environment for science to flourish. That means securing an association agreement to Horizon Europe, 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s flagship research funding programme ¨C or at 바카라사이트 very minimum ring-fencing 바카라사이트 ?14 billion for our contribution to Horizon Europe for research in 바카라사이트 UK. It means no cuts to 바카라사이트 R&D budget and a commitment to investing in R&D right across 바카라사이트 UK. And it means ensuring 바카라사이트 right incentives are in place to reach a total UK R&D spend of 3 per cent of GDP as soon as practicable to keep up with leading scientific nations.

In times of turmoil and an ailing economy, 바카라사이트 government has a choice to invest in innovation, to deliver a vote of confidence in R&D. The Autumn Statement can be 바카라사이트 moment when we revive 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ailing bank balance by investing in a sure-fire winner for 바카라사이트 economy.??

Ian Walker is executive director of policy, information and communications at Cancer Research UK.