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<p>The Government recognises the importance of R&D to help transform the steel
sector so it can play a vital role within our modern Industrial Strategy. Increasing
investment in R&D was one of the key recommendations in our 2017 <em>Future capacities
and capabilities of the UK steel industry</em> study (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-steel-industry-future-market-opportunities"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-steel-industry-future-market-opportunities</a>),
which sets out how the industry can increase its profitability and sustainability.</p><p>The
Government’s priority remains ensuring that the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified.
This would ensure that UK entities’ right to participate in the Research Fund for
Coal and Steel – including bidding for funding – would be unaffected until the end
of 2020.</p><p>We are considering options for supporting R&D in steel beyond 2020
and will continue to work with the sector, unions and Devolved Administrations to
develop a viable long-term solution. The Government will decide on science and innovation
expenditure, including on R&D for steel, in the next Spending Review.</p>
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