the covid jab has saved millions of lives. its development within the space of a year is one of the clearest illustrations of the value of science. the man who helped develop one of the vaccines is concerned that britain's leading role in research could be under threat. that's if the government doesn't follow through on plans to increase science spending to £22 billion by 2024. we absolutely have to invest in science, otherwise we are going to fall behind other countries. indeed, over the months and years ahead, every aspect of our lives will be touched by the investment that happens in science today. and if we aspire to, in the future, build into a stronger society, we absolutely have to have that science. our very lives depend on it. the promised boost to research spending was to help the uk keep up with its international rivals. over the past 20 years or so, the uk has increased research spending by 0.1% of gdp. in south korea, it was 2.6. in china, it was1.5 and in germany, it was 0.8. overall, the uk spends less as a proportion of gdp than nearly every other