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The UK risks losing its status as a world-leader in science research unless funding is increased, a report from MPs has claimed.

The House of Common's Science and Technology Committee has warned the country faces falling behind other countries and putting jobs at risk unless a longterm plan for more investment is put in place. "The UK has fallen behind its competitors in terms of total R&D investment and this will put UK competitiveness, productivity and high-value jobs at risk if it is not reversed," the committee's report into the future of science funding said.


It called for a "more robust system" to be introduced and said that the government should review its plans for funding scientific research with an "upward trajectory in the resources budget".

The report from the committee comes in ahead of the government's sending review, which is due to be published at the end of November. The review is set to outline the Conservative party's plans for £20 billion in cuts to public sector services, as the party seeks to wipe out the deficit by 2020.

Since the party came to power in 2010 there has been a flat-cash settlement for the science budget, which the committee says has seen a real world value fall by six per cent.

In its call for more funding for the science community the committee said a "roadmap" should be created for increasing both public and private sector science research, and development investment, up to 3 percent of the UK's GDP. Spending in science is an investment that provides economic returns, the committee argued.


At present the country spends just 1.7% of its GDP on science and research, this is below the OECD average of 2.4%. Germany and the US spend 2.9% and 2.8% of their GDP on scientific research.

MP Nicola Blackwood, the committee's chair, said the UK "risks losing its status" as a leading country for research unless the funding is increased. "Spending on science and innovation is not a state subsidy, it is a strategic investment that creates jobs, increases productivity and attracts inward investment," she said.

The government's spending review is set to be published on November 25 and will detail changes to funding in all public services.