Both the CBI and Source Advisors believe that increasing business innovation investment in the UK will be core to driving long-term economic growth. However, the UK lags comparator countries on levels of R&D investment, as well as on technology and innovation adoption.
This research, Innovation Investment: Firm foundations for growth, seeks to understand the factors that influence innovation investment decisions today.
The scope of the research included roundtables with businesses, ministers and academics, as well as a UK wide survey leading to a report that will be the cornerstone of the CBIs innovation policy for the foreseeable future.
The report sets out three major shifts required to unlock innovation investment and bring the UK back into the global race. Firstly, innovation needs to be a whole of government responsibility instead of being siloed into various teams and departments. Secondly, government needs to deliver faster on plans. Businesses have had enough of whitepapers, they need to see action. Finally, government should build the UK’s market for innovation.
Since its publication at the end of 2025, the report has been well received by policymakers with some recommendations already being implemented.
Official launch of CBI report, Innovation Investment: firm foundations for Growth.
25 February 2026
In this episode from our At Source series, special guest Nicola Eckersley-Waites, Senior Manager at the CBI, joined Luke Hamm and Akshay Thaman. Here, they discuss the research report Innovation Investment: firm foundations for growth.
March 2026
As early as March in 2025, it felt like the economy was feeling sorry for itself and that we were in for a bit of
In June, Source Advisors announced a strategic partnership with the CBI to deliver a major research initiative to advance the understanding of innovation investment in
Source Advisors is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the CBI to deliver a major research initiative aimed to advance the understanding of innovation
