In Brazil, the British Council has been encouraging cooperation in research and development since the early 1980’s, facilitating partnerships between universities and British and Brazilian research centres. There have been significant results particularly in the areas of human resources, curricular reforms and research development.

We have moved towards encouraging partnerships at a strategic level, bringing together Brazilian Science & Technology organisations and their counterparts in the UK.

Research & Development investments in the United Kingdom

• In 1998, the United Kingdom spent almost £16 billion in R&D, about £10 billion of which were invested in companies, £1.5 billion in the government, and £3 billion in the academic sector.
• British companies spent almost £7 billion in R&D in 1998.
• Hundreds of transnational companies have established research centres in the United Kingdom, and are taking advantage of new product research, design, and development.
• In 1997, the UK spent about 2% of its GDP in R&D, which is above the European average.
• Most research facilities of Japanese and American companies based in Europe are located in the UK.
• In 1999, British companies spent over £11 billion in R&D. Almost half of that amount (48%) was invested in the Southeast. About 13% were invested in the Southwestern region.