Social Sciences & Humanities Research in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2028)

Social Sciences & Humanities Research in the UK industry analysis

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research and Development Activities industry’s revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 4.3% over the five years through 2024 to €3.6 billion. This includes a forecast drop of 2.8% in 2024. Revenue is far lower than in the Natural Science and Engineering Research and Development Activities industry, since scientific innovation, engineering techniques and healthcare developments are prioritised over research in societal change, economics, political science and cultural progress. Spending by businesses on R&D for these subjects is significantly lower, with most money instead coming from publicly backed organisations, such as think tanks, political organisations and cultural centres. That being said, Belgium, Germany, Malta and Sweden all rely more heavily on business-funded R&D, whereas Greece, Luxembourg, Slovakia and Estonia all depend more on government funding, finds Eurostat. Horizon Europe and the Humanities in the European Research Area (HERA) have made significant funding contributions since 2020 to progress in R&D, which has boosted revenue.

Trends and Insights

• Business expenditure and government funding for R&D activities climbs. Greater incentives are encouraging businesses to put more resources behind R&D, while support from Horizon Europe and Humanities in the European Research Area is increasing.
• Humanities research grows in importance. Concerns around climate change have boosted funding and resources for solutions.
• Partnerships with key clients and governments help boost economies of scale. Relationships are important when products, theories and strategies are being developed, as they help diversify the risk of R&D costs if a project hits a dead end.