This position statement sets out UK Research and Innovation‘s (UKRI) current approach to sharing research equipment and infrastructure. It explains the benefits of sharing, UKRI’s expectations for funded researchers and organisations, and the support we provide to improve access, utilisation, sustainability and collaboration.
UKRI’s position
Research equipment and infrastructure are valuable assets that deliver the greatest benefit when they are widely accessible and used effectively.
Sharing maximises the value, sustainability and impact of these investments, while supporting collaboration and innovation across the UK.
Research and innovation communities across the UK are actively working together to share equipment and infrastructure. UKRI recognises that genuine barriers, practical, financial, and cultural, limit progress in sharing, which will require collective action to address.
UKRI contributes to this shared endeavour by supporting and enabling a more connected infrastructure system. We aim to maximise the utilisation, value, sustainability and accessibility of the research equipment and infrastructure we fund, delivering important benefits to our community.
For example, shared infrastructure:
- increases collaboration and access to research capabilities by connecting communities
- maximises the benefit of every pound we invest by increasing utilisation and reducing duplication
- improves sustainability and efficiency by reducing environmental impact, extending lifetime capacity and making the best use of spaces and skills
- strengthens skills, training and technical capability by allowing training and skills to converge around infrastructure, not a grant
UKRI uses our leverage as a funder and collaborator to drive sharing practices in research and innovation. This approach aligns with our wider commitment to open research, including our expectations around sharing data.
We support our communities through our peer review processes, connecting and enabling the infrastructure ecosystem and promoting a positive culture of collaboration. As part of our commitment to our mission, we are actively exploring other interventions to support sharing and will engage with the community as we develop them.
Support for equipment and infrastructure sharing
UKRI provides support for equipment and infrastructure sharing through:
- setting expectations in our terms and conditions that spare capacity in UKRI-funded equipment should be made available to other users
- requiring equipment over £138,000 (£115,000 excluding VAT) to be recorded on the Equipment Data Service national database
- embedding commitments to equipment sharing in our Sustainability strategy
- committing to maximising the use of existing research and innovation infrastructure capabilities in our Corporate plan
- stating expectations for sharing assets through our competitive opportunities
- promoting equipment sharing through support for community-led initiatives, such as networking led by research technical professionals, and funding through the UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy