UKRI

UKRI
Name	UK Research and Innovation
Type	Non-departmental public body
Founded	2018
Headquarters	Polaris House, Swindon
Key people	Sir Andrew Mackenzie (Chair), Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser (Chief Executive)
Industry	Research and development
Parent	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

UKRI. UK Research and Innovation is the national funding agency investing in science and research in the United Kingdom. Established in 2018, it brings together seven disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK, and Research England into a single, cohesive organisation. Its primary mission is to nurture an outstanding research and innovation system that gives the UK a global competitive edge, driving economic growth and addressing societal challenges.

History and formation

The formation of UKRI was a central recommendation of the 2015 Nurse Review of Research Councils, led by Sir Paul Nurse. This review argued for greater coordination across the UK's research landscape to enhance interdisciplinary work and improve strategic direction. The policy was subsequently enacted through the Higher Education and Research Act 2017, which legally established the new body. Its creation marked the most significant restructuring of British public research funding since the era of Lord Sainsbury of Turville and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The organisation officially commenced operations in April 2018, superseding the previous coordinating role of Research Councils UK and integrating the functions of Innovate UK.

Structure and organisation

UKRI operates through a federated structure comprising nine constituent councils. These include the seven research councils: the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council. Alongside these, the organisation incorporates Innovate UK, which focuses on business-led innovation, and Research England, responsible for funding and engaging with universities. This structure is designed to foster collaboration across disciplines while maintaining deep subject-specific expertise, with strategic oversight provided by the UKRI Board and executive team.

Funding and strategic priorities

The organisation allocates an annual budget of over £8 billion, provided primarily through the government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. A significant portion of this funding is directed through core strategic programmes such as the Global Challenges Research Fund and the Strength in Places Fund. Strategic priorities are set in alignment with the government's UK Innovation Strategy and Research and Development Roadmap. Key investment areas include achieving net zero, advancing Artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, and improving national resilience in areas like pandemic preparedness and security. Funding is distributed via a mix of responsive-mode grants, large-scale strategic programmes, and investments in national infrastructure like the Francis Crick Institute.

Research and innovation activities

UKRI supports a vast portfolio of activities, from fundamental discovery science at institutions like the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge to applied industrial research led by companies such as AstraZeneca and Rolls-Royce Holdings. It manages major international projects including the UK's contribution to CERN and the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. The agency also runs prestigious fellowship schemes like the Future Leaders Fellowships and supports training through doctoral programmes at the Centres for Doctoral Training. Through Innovate UK, it fosters business innovation via grants, loans, and networks such as the Catapult Centres, which include the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult.

Governance and leadership

The organisation is governed by a board appointed by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology. The inaugural Chair was Sir John Kingman, succeeded by Sir Andrew Mackenzie. The Chief Executive is Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, who previously directed the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. The board includes senior representatives from academia, industry, and the research councils, ensuring a breadth of expertise. UKRI is accountable to Parliament and its sponsoring department, with its performance reviewed by bodies such as the National Audit Office and the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.

Impact and public engagement

UKRI mandates that funded research demonstrates both excellence and societal impact, assessed through frameworks like the Research Excellence Framework. It actively promotes public engagement through initiatives such as the Festival of Social Science and partnerships with the British Science Association. The agency supports knowledge exchange via schemes like the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and plays a pivotal role in coordinating the UK's scientific response to crises, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic with the rapid funding of research into vaccines and treatments through the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Vaccine Taskforce.

Category:Research organisations in the United Kingdom Category:Science and technology in the United Kingdom Category:Government agencies established in 2018