Brexit-proof the UK economy with more R&D, say employers

New CBI campaign says economy risks being left behind unless UK research budget rises to 3% of GDP from 1.7%

Britain must Brexit-proof its economy by ramping up spending on research and development or risk being left behind in the global race to deliver game-changing innovations in areas such as space tourism and robotics, the country's leading business group has said.

The CBI lobby group will launch a campaign on Monday to urge the government to adopt an ambitious new target for R&D spending of 3% of GDP, compared with the current level of 1.7%.