Government claims progress on research promises as spring budget approaches

But R&D sector calls for more action on funding stability, visas and tax credits

The government has said it is delivering promises from last year’s spring budget “in full” and that it has “further ambitious plans for the coming year”, as the research sector’s lobbying efforts intensified ahead of this year’s spending announcement on 6 March.

Recent budgets have been bold on R&D, with various announcements to boost investment in innovation and improve regulation made this time last year. These included £2.5 billion for quantum R&D over 10 years and “boosting the supply of commercial development, in particular lab space”.