Your question should start with the 'en'. The speaker is emphasizing that the money devoted research is an investment, not an expense. Literally, the bit in parenthesis reads, (and I highlight 'investment', and not 'expenditure'). Aside from being accounted for differently, it's his way of saying that these funds will give 'returns' (in the form of findings) in the future, not just pay for something at present. An even more natural way to say it would be (the money) 'invested, not spent'. All best - PB