According to a survey of 4,733 businesses, the UK’s Business Enterprise R&D (BERD) spending grew 8.1% in constant dollars to £17.4 billion ($28.2 billion) in 2011. BERD spending increased 8.3%, 9.0%, 11.2% and 9.4% in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively. Businesses themselves increased BERD spending 12.0% to account for 65% of total spending. The government’s expenditures on BERD rose 15.1% to comprise 9%. However, investment from foreign sources dropped 1.4% to make up 21% of expenditures. Manufacturing accounted for 72% of BERD spending, and services made up 28%. Investment in pharmaceutical R&D by the business sector grew 3.6% to comprise 28% of total private R&D expenditures. Chemical and chemical products R&D spending increased 4.3% to £689 million, and food products and beverages spending rose 14.8% to £350 million. Business spending on experimental development and applied research constituted 50% and 47% of total expenditures, respectively. The number of full-time R&D employees in the UK increased 4.0% to 158,000, with scientists and engineers comprising 78%, a 2.3% increase.

Source: UK Office for National Statistics