UK unveils £55 billion science funding plan

The UK government confirmed a £55 billion programme of long-term research and development funding aimed at boosting science, innovation and high-tech industry, with allocations to support work in areas including climate science, AI safety, clean energy, health, quantum computing and next‑generation semiconductors. The money comes from an £86 billion science and technology R&D package announced at the spending review and will be distributed through research agencies and public bodies over the coming years, officials said.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall used a visit to IBM’s UK headquarters to underscore the strategy’s aims: to accelerate commercialisation of university research, expand AI and data‑centre infrastructure, strengthen domestic supply chains for critical technologies and attract major international R&D centres. Kendall argued the investment will spur economic growth and jobs, noting that public R&D typically leverages additional private investment and that firms supported by R&D funding tend to grow and hire faster.

Flagship commitments cited by ministers include a national quantum computing institute and a rural electric‑vehicle battery plant, alongside measures to bolster high‑performance computing and AI-driven systems. The government said it will publish a roadmap early next year detailing allocation plans and metrics for success.

Officials framed the package as central to a broader industrial strategy to rebalance the economy toward high‑tech sectors and reduce reliance on traditional industries. Supporters point to recent global tech investment in Britain as evidence that targeted public funding can anchor private R&D activity. Critics and industry observers cautioned that converting headline sums into measurable outcomes will demand strong cross‑departmental coordination, clear commercialisation pathways and close alignment with private partners. Questions were also raised about how much of the £55 billion represents new funding versus reallocated resources and how impact will be assessed.

The announcement comes amid rising international competition in advanced technologies from the United States, China and the EU; ministers say the package is intended to keep the UK competitive by filling gaps in infrastructure, skills and manufacturing capacity. The government emphasised that the funding is not a one‑off grant but a sustained platform for innovation, while acknowledging that delivery—translating commitments into built facilities, supply chains and commercialised products—remains the principal challenge.