Northern Ireland research spending hits all-time high

Northern Ireland increased its expenditure on R&D to £521 million in 2010, statistics from its Department of Finance and Personnel show. The figure is an 8 per cent cash-terms increase on the £483m spent in 2009 and is accounted for by rises in both business and higher education spending. According to a report published by the UK Treasury in March, Northern Ireland still has one of the lowest spends on R&D compared with other UK regions. The 10 biggest spending companies, including aeronautics company Bombardier, accounted for almost 60 per cent of the region’s total R&D expenditure.