You are here: Home » Policy and Research Unit » Publications » Policy briefings » Science: an engine of innovation

Science: an engine of innovation

Published
June 2007

Download
Science, an engine of innovation 69KB

Description

Science is about the discovery of new knowledge, and frequently leads to insights that form the basis of breakthrough new products and processes.

Three lenses of a microscope

Currently, the UK is improving in three important areas, but not fast enough. Expenditure on R&D lags behind international competitors, STEM graduates are increasing but demand is likely to outstrip supply, and links between businesses and universities are still challenged by university funding streams and cultural differences.

In a world where the UK is competing not only with the United States and Europe but with emerging science powerhouses like China and India, science policy needs to become more prominent, but more importantly it needs to become more sophisticated.