Ex-minister calls for R&D spending to be over 3% of GDP

Upcoming innovation strategy should include timetable for reaching the target, says Chris Skidmore

The government must set out a “definite timetable” in its upcoming innovation strategy to increase R&D investment to over 3 per cent of GDP and keep up with other innovation-rich countries, former science minister Chris Skidmore has said.

Addressing the annual congress for the Engineering Professors’ Council on 8 June, the Conservative MP  said the strategy and the autumn spending review would be “critical” indicators of whether the government will reach its current target to increase R&D investment to 2.4 per cent of GDP by 2027.