The new plan outlines how UKRI will make the most of the government’s record £38.6 billion investment to boost research and innovation in every nation and region.
This will translate funding into world-leading discovery to improve lives.
It will also back businesses to start, scale and stay in the UK and focus on leveraging at least £3 of private investment for every £1 of public funding to in turn grow our economy.
More agile and efficient
At the same time UKRI will reform its processes and systems to become more agile and efficient.
This will make it easier for researchers to focus on delivering pioneering work and reap more benefits for their teams and the wider public.
The strategy reinforces government priorities including:
- artificial intelligence (AI)
- quantum technologies
- clean energy
- regional growth
- innovation-led productivity
While maintaining the UK’s longstanding strength in curiosity-driven research, the foundation of many of the discoveries that transform lives, create industries and underpin future prosperity.
Our new mission
The strategy details how, through our new mission, we will:
- fuel breakthrough ideas through bold, UK‑wide discovery and curiosity research investment
- tackle national priorities, such as AI, quantum and clean energy, leveraging at least £3 of private investment for every £1 of public funding
- power the UK’s future economy by helping businesses start, scale, and stay and strengthening research and innovation clusters across the UK to drive growth
- strengthen the foundations of the research and innovation system by continuing to support world-leading talent and strengthening place-based partnerships
- reform our organisation by becoming more agile and efficient through greater use of our IT, data systems and AI enabled approaches
For example, by 2031 we will have:
- delivered key elements of the UK Compute Roadmap, including operation of the new national supercomputing service at Edinburgh by April 2028, and implemented the new UKRI AI Strategy
- invested in local research and innovation reinforcing local priorities and supporting growth across the UK
- supported over 20,000 new doctoral studentships across the UK and leveraged partner co-investment to grow doctoral capability in priority areas
- reduced grant processing times for applicants by at least 50%, including testing innovations at scale, such as distributed peer review
The strategy builds on extensive engagement with stakeholders across the research and innovation sector following publication of UKRI’s allocations explainer in December.
This helps shape a shared approach to delivering the UK’s research and innovation ambitions.
Supporting curiosity-driven research
Science Minister Lord Vallance said:
Research funding transforms lives, unlocks growth, and creates new jobs, and a clear strategy to ensure we can deliver maximum impact for the British public is vital.
That means supporting the curiosity-driven research that can lead to tomorrow’s biggest breakthroughs and new ideas, while focusing now on technologies like AI, quantum, life sciences and clean energy, which are at the heart of our Industrial Strategy and will shape our economy over the coming years.
By making smarter use of data, digital tools and AI, UKRI can deliver better outcomes for researchers, businesses and the public to drive growth across the UK.
A unique opportunity
Professor Sir Ian Chapman, UKRI Chief Executive, said:
One of the UK’s biggest assets is the quality of our research and innovation. With more than £9 billion to invest each year, we have a unique opportunity to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth across the UK.
Over the next five years, UKRI will show a clear line from our mission to our money, backing the curiosity-driven research that sparks transformative ideas, supporting the innovative companies that will become tomorrow’s industry giants, and strengthening the foundations of the R&I system.
We are also transforming our organisation and boosting our partnerships. Together we can shape the nation’s economic future.
A clear framework
Alongside the strategy, UKRI has published its 2026 to 2027 delivery plan.
This sets out the actions we will take to deliver the new strategy and mission.
It provides a framework for monitoring progress this year to achieve collective outcomes and is not a full account of all we do.
Together, the strategy and delivery plan provide a clear framework for translating record investment in research and innovation into discovery, innovation, growth and public benefit across the UK.
Helping vital breakthroughs
Libby Hackett, Chief Executive of the Russell Group said:
UKRI remains a remarkable asset for the UK, fundamental to the scale, strength and impact of our R&D landscape. We’re very encouraged to see the new strategy taking a strong focus on discovery- and curiosity-driven research, which are key to the success of the UK system. This comes alongside a more strategic approach to innovation and commercialisation, helping vital breakthroughs move out of the lab and into industry, public services and new businesses.
A focus on long-term priorities, alongside steps to reduce bureaucracy and accelerate decision-making, should help universities and researchers pursue R&D goals with more confidence and agility. Our universities are poised to work closely with UKRI as the strategy is implemented to address shared challenges and deliver for government’s priorities.
Global leader in research
Dr Joe Marshall, Chief Executive, National Centre for Universities and Business said:
The UK has earned its reputation as a global leader in research. The opportunity now is to build on that success by creating the conditions for even more of that excellence to become investment, innovation and opportunity. That’s what makes this strategy so important.
Through our work at the National Centre for Universities and Business, we see a shared ambition to realise more of the value that the UK’s research strengths can create. If we match that ambition with long-term commitment across UKRI, government, universities and business, we have a genuine opportunity not only to remain one of the world’s leading research nations, but to become one of the very best at translating that strength into economic growth and better lives.
Extraordinary potential
Sir John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:
We welcome the realism and prioritisation in UKRI’s new strategy in the context of difficult funding challenges. It shows an appropriate balance of supporting investigator-led research, addressing societal needs, helping companies start and scale in the UK, and aligning with national priorities, all essential responsibilities of our national research and innovation funder.
Engineering and technology have extraordinary potential to improve lives and drive growth, and we are pleased to see emphasis on this ambition and practical frameworks for the choices needed. We look forward to seeing more detail about the plans and to working with UKRI as they review issues such as block grant funding and intellectual property.
Bringing together expertise
Hetan Shah, Chief Executive of the British Academy, said:
The UK has deep strengths in the social science, humanities and arts (SHAPE) disciplines alongside STEM. We welcome UKRI bringing together expertise across all disciplines to support research and development which can help develop societal understanding, strengthen our democracy and public sphere, as well as contribute to our prosperity and security.
Research is an international endeavour and so global collaboration will be essential to the success of this strategy. The British Academy looks forward to continuing to work with UKRI to maximise the impact of R&D on the lives of everybody across the whole of the UK.