Support in the UK for public spending on research and development is “fragile” and it could be seen as a “luxury” in challenging financial times, according to new polling.
While politicians have kept funding pledges for the sector so far, this may not last, warned the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), which found more than a third of people can think of very few or no ways investment in R&D improves their lives.
While the public remained broadly supportive of R&D, many viewed it as something that could be cut when the going gets tough. Almost half of those polled said more investment should wait until the economy was in better shape.
Rachel Wolf, founding partner of Public First, who carried out the study, said public support “won’t survive tough times and other priorities” without “tangible detail”.
