Innovation plays a key role in the creation of a knowledge based economy, and the long-term vision for UK science and innovation is set out in the Science and Innovation Investment Framework 2004-2014. Two of the main points of this framework are to maintain the delivery of world-class research, and to increase the links between business and the Research base. To achieve these goals, recommendations were taken into account from both the 2003 Lambert Review, which investigated the links between businesses and universities, and the 2002 Roberts Review, which looked at the supply of scientists, engineers and technologists.
More recently, in 2008, the Government published the White Paper ‘Innovation Nation’, which sets out the  aim to make the UK the best place in the world to run an innovative business or public service

The UK government currently supports industrial R&D in a number of ways, including R&D tax credits, an incentive in the form of tax relief for companies of all sizes to raise their R&D investment levels. It also has various R&D grants for businesses, as well as knowledge transfer partnerships, which allow businesses to gain access to expertise from academic establishments.

The European Union also supports industrial research and development, through its framework programmes. Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) are actively encouraged to participate in the current framework programme, FP7, which started in January 2007. This framework programme is also designed to develop research which meets the needs of industry, through the work carried out by Technology Platforms and Joint Technology Initiatives. For more information about FP7 visit the cordis website.

For more information on how the UK government supports innovation, visit the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is an independent organisation whose mission statement is to help create and sustain the conditions in which businesses in the United Kingdom can compete and prosper for the benefit of all. As part of this, the CBI helps to raise awareness of innovation as a key part of business success; promoting best practice, lobbying government and providing networking activities. For more information visit the CBI’s technology and innovation webpages.

NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts - a unique and independent body with a mission to make the UK more innovative. NESTA invests in early-stage companies, informs and shapes policy, and delivers practical programmes that inspire others to solve the big challenges of the future.

There are many resources for researchers interested in starting a career in industry. If you would like to identify the organisations in your sector who invest the most in R&D you could visit the R&D Scoreboard, which has a searchable database of companies by sector. You can view the top UK and global companies with active R&D and sort using several criteria, including profit, investment in R&D, and the number of employees.

Another useful site is Scenta, which works with leaders in the science, engineering and technology (SET) community to provide a gateway to the best information and resources for those pursuing a career in SET. This website has overviews of several industry sectors which are active in R&D.
Alternatively you could search for information about what is going on in particular regions of the UK or investigate the sectors of industry which are interesting to you.

Throughout the UK, development agencies promote sustainable economic development, a key part of which is encouraging innovation. If you are particularly interested in coming to a specific area of the UK you could visit the relevant website to find out more about important R&D sectors in that region:

England’s Regional Development Agencies

• Northwest Regional Development Agency
• Yorkshire Forward (Yorkshire and Humber)
• One North East
• Advantage West Midlands
• East Midlands Development Agency
• East of England Development Agency
• South West of England Regional Development Agency
• London Development Agency
• South East England Development Agency

Scottish Enterprise

Welsh Assembly Government's Department of Enterprise, innovation and Networks

Invest Northern Ireland

NOTE: all Regional Development Agencies across the UK will be closing on March 31, 2012. All of the web links in this section will most likely be inactive on and after that date.

R&D is a vital part of many sectors of industry, and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has information on these, including:

Aerospace, Marine and Defence
Automotive
Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
Chemicals
Digital
Computer Games
Electronics and IT services
Energy and Climate Change
Low Carbon Business Opportunities
Material and Engineering
Telecommunications

Other useful resources are UK Trade and Investment, the Science Engineering Manufacturing Technologies Allianc (SEMTA) and SCENTA, which has overviews of several industry sectors which are active in R&D.