Private enterprise proving not to be very enterprising M. Foreign Countries proving to have more confidence in the Bitish people than our own captains of industry. I dare say in the future those very captains of industry will be calling for-'a level playing field' to help them make their big profits/big salaries

Here's the BBC article see here. 

Thanks, brue. I really must try to get to grips with this link posting thingy! 

You never know the bright new web site might have had some R&D !!

Not sure the Chinese are investing much in the CC though! 

Another IMF fantasy

Another IMF fantasy

What makes you think that OP? The figures speak for themselves and, of course, the "league"position is surely a reliable guide? 

ON reflection on the thread title 

Letting the country down!

IMO the people who are most letting the country down are the doom mongers and those who keep talking this country down. 

We have a good country called the UK - it's not perfect but - it's all right.  It deserves better than at every turn somebody is saying how rubbish it is.  

Cheers..................K

Getting back to the topic introduced by the OP.....

R&D is vital in the field of innovation and it has to be disappointing that our private sector apparently cannot see that, but choose to spend their profits on other things instead.

So overall, yes I agree in that respect they are letting the country down.

Cheers

Bugs

Getting back to the topic introduced by the OP.....

R&D is vital in the field of innovation and it has to be disappointing that our private sector apparently cannot see that, but choose to spend their profits on other things instead.

So overall, yes I agree in that respect they are letting the country down.

Cheers

Bugs

Yes but.. if they spent on R&D their profits would be higher over the longer term. Short termism, avarice and greed are not good traits.

Lack of leadership is another factor, as alluded to by K above.