July 1, 2020 — UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) welcomes today’s announcement by Business Secretary Alok Sharma of £300 million (~$373.8 million) investment in world-class research infrastructure across the UK.

The UK’s research facilities support a diverse system of teams and organizations working together to deliver benefits to their local and regional economies, investment through business collaboration, and societal benefits such as helping to achieve the UK’s ambition to tackle global challenges such as climate change.

This investment, through UKRI, will maintain and refresh our existing scientific infrastructure and further strengthen exceptional research and innovation across the UK.

The UK’s world-class infrastructure includes scientific and research instrumentation, supercomputing facilities and digital infrastructure, data sets and longitudinal studies.  Academic institutions and businesses use and benefit from these facilities.

UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said: “World-class facilities and infrastructure are integral to the UK’s exceptional research and innovation system.

“These facilities bind together the diverse range of people, teams and skills we need for success.  Together, they form the fabric of our system, pushing the boundaries of knowledge through ideas and innovation, strengthening regional economies and creating mutual benefit.

“We welcome this announcement and the government’s continued commitment to investing in a research and development system that will improve lives and fuel national prosperity.”

UKRI will use the funding to support infrastructure in universities, facilities and institutes, providing critical investment to maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities, instrument development, international subscriptions and long-term data studies.

About UK Research and Innovation

UKRI works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. We aim to maximise the contribution of each of our component parts, working individually and collectively. We work with our many partners to benefit everyone through knowledge, talent and ideas. Operating across the whole of the UK with a combined budget of more than £7 billion, UKRI brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England.

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Source: UK Research and Innovation