ABSTRACT
The public sector accounts for a large proportion of research and development expenditure. This chapter examines the allocation of government expenditure on research and development and briefly describes the main agencies responsible for the expenditure. The benefits arising from scientific research can be divided into four broad groups: direct benefits of mission orientated research; benefits of the economic application of curiosity orientated research; manpower benefits; and cultural benefits. Funds from the government sector largely reach the universities in two ways: through the University Grants Committee, and through the Research Councils. Another form of a governmental link with the private sector is the role played by the National Research Development Corporation. The role of the government is to put up about half of their finance and, through its representatives on boards, the government scientific service may exert some influence on the direction of the work of the associations.
