Rise in expenditure on R&D, but Welsh share is a mere 1.6%

THERE has been a rise in UK company expenditure on research and development, although Wales makes up less than 2% of the overall figure.

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New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show spending - based on current prices - in 2024 was up 4.5% (£2.4bn) on 2023 to £55.6bn. The rebound follows two consecutive years of falling private R&D spending.

The R&D expenditure for Wales was £884m, up on £825m a year earlier. The spending in Wales represented 1.6% of the UK total, far lower than its percentage share for the UK's business population. For Scotland, R&D investment of £2.83bn represented 5.1% of the UK total, with the £758m for Northern Ireland equating to a 1.4% share. England made up 91.9% at £51.13bn.