Capital Issues: Reforming the UK’s Capital Markets to Boost Science and Tech

This report highlights the critical challenges facing the UK's capital markets and their impact on the country's science and technology sectors. The report emphasizes that the UK's public markets are not fit for purpose, requiring bold and immediate reform to prevent the loss of invention and talent to other countries. It outlines several key issues, including chronically low levels of institutional investment and increasing regulatory burdens on businesses and investors. The report argues that failure to address these problems could lead to an irreversible decline in the UK's status as a global financial hub and hinder its potential to nurture world-leading science and tech companies. To counter these challenges, the report suggests expanding the UK's investment sector, cutting regulatory red tape, and modernizing the economy to foster innovation, particularly in high-growth sectors like technology. The authors stress the importance of these reforms for maintaining the UK's competitiveness in the global race for innovation and economic growth