Frontier Economics has been commissioned by the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and Wellcome to assess the value of non-commercial clinical research in the UK.

Our new report – delivered with support from Clarivate –  finds that between 2014 and 2024, this activity contributed £72.7 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy.

Importantly, the value of non-commercial clinical research goes beyond the economic. These studies – funded by charities, public bodies, and research councils – deliver a 'triple dividend': unlocking growth, supporting the NHS, and improving lives.

Non-commercial clinical research focuses on areas often under-served by commercial incentives: from preventive and public health research to trials of off-patent medicines. This work complements commercial activity and often lays the groundwork for future innovation. For example, the STarT Back tool for back pain – funded by Versus Arthritis – could save the NHS up to £209m and unlock productivity gains worth £5.1bn.

Frontier used a mixed-methods analysis combining economic modelling, bibliometric review, case studies, and stakeholder interviews. We quantified the direct economic impact, and also the NHS savings, workforce benefits, and quality-of-life improvements enabled by these studies.

Key findings include:

• £72.7bn GVA to the UK economy over ten years
• Non-commercial clinical research supported an average 8,410 full times roles per year in the NHS alone between 2014 and 2024
• 32,000 publications from 2015–2024, with citation rates nearly 3x the world average
• Quality-of-life gains worth £5,237 per patient (DiRECT Diabetes) and £2,619 per carer (START Dementia)

Commenting on our report, Lord James O'Shaughnessy said:

''This Frontier Economics & AMRC report makes clear that clinical trials and wider health R&D are fundamental to the UK’s long-term success. It provides further strong evidence that delivering more trials within the NHS – both non-commercial and commercial – brings extensive health and wealth benefits.''

''Since 2023 there has been a sharp focus from successive governments on re-establishing the UK clinical trials sector as world leading. Progress is being made but we need to move faster and be more ambitious. This report underlines the urgency of that mission.''

Our report highlights the irreplaceable role of non-commercial clinical research in the UK’s research and healthcare ecosystem, and its unique ability to deliver impact at scale.

Click here to read the full report: Health and growth: How non-commercial clinical research benefits the UK

For further information, please contact media@frontier-economics.com or call +44 (0) 20 7031 7000.