The expenditure on R&D in natural sciences by higher education institutions in the UK showed steady but modest growth from 2023 onwards. It reached 1.73 billion in 2024, a slight increase from the prior year. The forecasts from 2024 to 2028 indicate a stable rise from 1.73 to 1.76 billion, reflecting a consistent year-on-year growth of approximately 0.57%. Looking over the 5-year forecast, the projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is approximately 0.17%.
Future trends to watch include potential impacts of policy changes, funding shifts in natural sciences research, and the broader economic climate influencing allocations toward R&D. Attention should be focused on how these factors might accelerate or hinder the current growth trend.
