UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Chief Executive Ian Chapman has addressed recent concerns in an open letter to the research and innovation community, outlining changes to UKRI’s investment approach and the financial position of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Chapman acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding funding levels for curiosity-driven and applied research, emphasizing that periods of change are unsettling, but stresses that UKRI’s mission to advance knowledge, improve lives, and drive growth requires strategic decision-making to deliver the greatest impact.
Chapman clarifies that UKRI’s overall budget for research and innovation will rise across the 2026–2030 Spending Review period, reaching nearly £10 billion per year by the end of the period. While the increase represents government confidence in the sector, UKRI is tasked with focusing resources on fewer, high-impact areas aligned with national and societal priorities. Investment will be structured across three main areas: curiosity-driven research, strategic government and societal priorities, and support for innovative companies, all underpinned by infrastructure, facilities, and skills development.
The letter emphasizes that support for curiosity-driven research remains protected, comprising around 50% of the total investment, reflecting past funding patterns. Chapman reassures researchers that new opportunities will open later in the year as existing commitments wind down, and that the new model aims to deliver more coordinated UKRI-wide programmes where multiple councils have an interest, such as artificial intelligence, rather than separate, overlapping initiatives.
Chapman notes that implementing these changes is complex due to UKRI’s structure, encompassing seven research councils, Innovate UK, and Research England. While some programmes have paused temporarily during the transition, the review aims to fully implement the new model by the 2027–2028 financial year. Applied research programmes will align more closely with national industrial strategy sector plans, and investment in innovative companies will continue to support growth and scaling.
The STFC faces unique challenges due to rising costs linked to its facilities, research programmes, energy prices, and currency fluctuations. Despite a near-flat core budget, STFC must achieve cumulative savings of £162 million by the end of the 2029–2030 financial year to maintain sustainability. Chapman emphasizes that these measures are specific to STFC and should not be confused with the broader changes across UKRI, which are intended to strengthen investment impact across the sector.
Chapman concludes by reaffirming UKRI’s commitment to transparency, acknowledging that some decisions may be difficult or unpopular, but stressing that these strategic choices ultimately benefit the UK research and innovation community and the public by supporting high-impact research, protecting long-term curiosity-driven projects, and ensuring sustainable investment in critical facilities and programmes.
