Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Commentary
  • Published:

Is Britain spending enough on science?

Britain is falling behind the major industrialized countries in its investment in academic and related research, which may explain the nation's declining contribution to world science.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Irvine, J., Martin, B., Peacock, T. & Turner, R. Nature 316, 587–590 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Smith, D.C., Collins, P.M.D., Hicks, D.M. & Wyatt, S. Nature 323, 681–684 (1986).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Martin, B.R., Irvine, J. & Minchin, N., An International Comparison of Government Funding of Academic and Academically Related Research — Vol.1 (Main Report) and Vol.2 (Appendices), ABRC Science Policy Studies No.2 (Advisory Board for the Research Councils, London, 1986 — available only from SPRU).

  4. OECD Science and Technology Indicators: Resources Devoted to R&D (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, 1984).

  5. Ward, M. Purchasing Power Parities and Real Expenditures in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris, 1985).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Irvine, J., Martin, B. Is Britain spending enough on science?. Nature 323, 591–594 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/323591a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/323591a0

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing