Record amounts are being spent on R&D, according to the latest Scottish government statistics. Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD), one of the key measures of innovation, saw £2,529 million spent in 2017, mainly by businesses and higher-education institutions — up 8.3% in real terms between 2016 and 2017, compared to a 2.8% increase in the rest of the UK — while Business Enterprise Research and Development (BERD) expenditure was £1,247 million in 2017 — up 13.9% in real terms between 2016 and 2017, compared to a 2.9% increase for the UK.

Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) expenditure was £1,072 million in 2017 — up 2.9% in real terms between 2016 and 2017, compared to a 3.7% increase for the UK.

Innovation Minister Ivan McKee said: “This good performance was driven by very strong growth in business investment in R&D. Our higher-education facilities are continuing their important work, with our HERD performance among the top countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.