Investing in science: securing future prosperity.

A meeting concerned with UK science and technology investment was held at Chatham House, London, in November 2010. The UK science and technology research budget has been preserved at a fixed cash level whereas other areas of government face significant reductions in their financial support. This is in marked contrast to some East Asian countries, such as China, where investment in science and technology is increasing. The UK needs to change many aspects of education at school level and beyond to preserve its status as a first rate scientific country. It also has to solve the long-term problem, with some notable exceptions, of being unable to translate basic research discoveries into manufactured products. This article discusses the impact of these issues along with some tentative suggestions on how to improve these, with particular reference to the radiological sciences.