UK Research & Innovation

Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Named UKRI Chair Preferred Candidate

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has named Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz as the government's preferred candidate for Chair of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Sir Leszek will help steer UKRI as it supports research and innovation across the UK, helping to ensure public investment drives economic growth, strengthens the UK's global competitiveness and improves lives. He brings senior leadership experience from Cancer Research UK (Chair 2016–2023), the University of Cambridge (Vice-Chancellor 2010–2017), and the Medical Research Council (Chief Executive 2007–2010). The appointment is subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee expected in April 2026, with Sir Leszek expected to take up the role later that summer.

UK Regions Awarded up to £20 Million Through Local Innovation Partnerships Fund

The UK government, through UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, announced up to £20 million in funding for regional innovation partnerships across England and Wales. Recipients include the South West (autonomous systems including drones), the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor (autonomous vehicles, space technology), Greater Lincolnshire (agri-tech and defence), South-West Wales (energy security and materials security), the East Midlands (clean energy and advanced manufacturing), and jointly East Yorkshire/Hull and Tees Valley (clean energy and industrial decarbonisation). The funding is part of the £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund and the £86 billion R&D settlement until 2030.

UK Compute Roadmap Builds World-Class AI Ecosystem

DSIT and UKRI published the UK Compute Roadmap (32 pages, July 2025), outlining a strategy to build a world-class compute ecosystem supporting AI research and adoption across the UK economy. The Compute Evidence Annex was replaced on 19 March 2026, with content on environmental impacts modelling temporarily removed pending updates expected by summer 2026.

Science Secretary Proposes Voluntary Charter for Women Researchers

The UK Science Secretary has proposed a voluntary charter to support women researchers, seeking input from the research sector on commitments including paid maternity leave for PhD students, flexible working, and return-to-work support. The charter aims to address obstacles women face in research careers, with expectations that all PhD funders commit to meeting or exceeding UKRI's parental leave standards of 52 weeks maternity leave with 26 weeks at full stipend. Funding for the Daphne Jackson Trust will double from £1.7M to £4M annually.

Tay Cities Region Gets Up to £20M UK Government Creative Tech Funding

The UK government has confirmed that the Tay Cities Region in Scotland will receive up to £20 million from the competitive strand of the £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund. The funding aims to accelerate growth in the region's creative technology sector spanning video games, design innovations, and immersive technologies like virtual reality. Dundee, Perth and surrounding areas in Angus, Dundee, Fife, and Perth and Kinross are expected to benefit, with local creative and digital industries having generated £353 million turnover in 2022.