Government science spending stagnates as percentage of GDP

UK government expenditure on science, engineering and technology remained mostly unchanged as a percentage of GDP between 2012 and 2017, according to official figures.

The government spent £12.2 billion on science, engineering and technology related to R&D in 2017, which represents 0.59 per cent of GDP, the Office for National Statistics said on 13 June. In 2012 the government spent £11.1bn, in constant prices, representing 0.60 per cent of GDP.

This figure includes estimates of spending by government departments, research councils and higher education funding councils, as well as spending on knowledge transfer and the UK’s contribution to the European Union’s R&D programmes.