University chemists get poor pickings

Chemical companies are "acutely concerned" about the government's under-investment in university infrastructure support, according to a survey of 67 top firms by the Chemical Industries Association. The firms fear that under-investment in laboratories could undermine research. The surveyed firms spent Pounds 268 million on research and development in the United Kingdom last year, of which only 5 per cent was channelled into academic research. A further Pounds 505 million was spent on R&D elsewhere, implying an annual R&D spend by the firms of more than Pounds 1.35 billion.