Themes and programmes
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funds world-class research demonstrating the quality of the UK research base and the UK's strong international performance. Novel, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches are needed to solve many, if not all, of the big research challenges over the next 10 to 20 years.
Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF)
UKRI is working to develop a new competitive Strategic Priorities Fund which builds on the vision of a ‘common fund’ set out in Sir Paul Nurse’s review. The SPF will support high quality research and development priorities which would otherwise be missed – multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary programmes identified by researchers and businesses at the cutting edge of research and innovation. We will set out further details in due course.
Multidisciplinary programmes
UKRI coordinates, through its nine organisations. the delivery of multidisciplinary research in the following priority areas:
- Digital economy
- Energy
- Global Food Security
- Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance
- Technology Touching Life
- Urban Living Partnership
Each theme is important in terms of the knowledge and skilled people which will be generated, and has significant potential for delivering economic impact. Effective coordination of the programmes through UKRI will accelerate delivery of benefits and economic impact.
The research councils, within UKRI have a long history of working together and collaborating on multidisciplinary programmes.
Recent previous investments have included: Lifelong Health and Wellbeing; Living with Environmental Change; Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security Research.
Further information on previously funded programmes can be found on a National Archive copy of the former RCUK website.
Other cross-organisational themes and programmes include: