Research and analysis

Science and innovation: rates of return to investment

Synthesizes the evidence base on the rate of return to public investment in science and innovation.

Documents

Rates of return to investment in science and innovation

Details

This report confirms that social returns are significant; normally 2 or 3 times larger than private benefit and persisting long into the future. It shows evidence confirming that every £1 spent by government yields a return of between 20 to 50 pence per year in perpetuity.

Case study evidence in the report on 2 key industrial strategy sectors (aerospace and life sciences) illustrate the importance of government support to help reduce risk and facilitate links to academia.

Published 22 July 2014