The latest UK R&D scoreboard is now available here from the Department of Information, University and Skills (formerly known as the DTI Scoreboard) and makes interesting reading. Click here for our view.

It shows a 7% year on year increase in the amount of UK R&D performed by the top 850 R&D performers. (UK850) The 2 largest sectors, Pharmaceutical companies together with Aerospace & Defence now account for 76% of all R&D performed by the UK850.

With the ongoing financial havoc of 2008, we expect the scoreboard next year to show a decline in R&D spending as companies tighten their belts.This will be especially pronounced as companies become loss-making, and as such under the Large Company R&D scheme will not be entitled to R&D tax relief. As a result of this, we may see under-reporting of R&D as well. Certainly the 19% increase in R&D by the financial services sector is unlikely to be repeated for some time.