UK Research and Innovation

Updates on our 2026 strategy and budget Reshaping UKRI's strategy UKRI is developing a new strategy, to be launched in spring 2026.

Updates on our 2026 strategy and budget can be found here: www.ukri.org/who-we-are/o...

Key themes from North West regional engagement event on UKRI strategy l Professor Sir Ian Chapman YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation

Recently we held our first regional engagement event about our new strategy. Our CEO, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, shares key themes that emerged from this conversation at Daresbury Laboratory with stakeholders from across the North West in this video: youtu.be/irQ0nxP9qnw

Expression of interest: NHS fit for the future dementia challenge Submit an expression of interest if you have a clinical intervention or technological innovation that will:

Applications are open for the R&D Missions Accelerator Programme Dementia Challenge, an opportunity seeking clinical interventions & technological innovations for the NHS. Submit your expression of interest by 2 April.

Details, including 18 March webinar registration: www.ukri.org/opportunity/...

Lollipops detect cancer Non-invasive test funded in Swindon to speed up diagnosis.

Research supports more of our everyday lives than many of us realise.

Across the UK, publicly funded research is protecting livelihoods and improving lives in ways that often go unseen.

That's why we’re sharing stories that make the impact visible.

Read the latest: www.ukri.org/news-and-eve...

Five-minute dementia test Laser-based test could transform early diagnosis.

Research and innovation shapes the world around us. From transforming healthcare to connecting communities - it's improving the lives and livelihoods of people everywhere.

But, it's not always recognised. That's why we’re sharing stories to spread the word👇

www.ukri.org/news-and-eve...

Person on ladder adjusting clock hands against a sky transitioning from day to night.

New #LMBResearch led by @drbatmo.bsky.social in John O’Neill’s group (@cellbiol-mrclmb.bsky.social) has identified the molecular switch decides day or night.

Click here to read how the mTOR pathway controls when mammals are active and the role it’s played in evolution: mrclmb.ac.uk/news-events/...

Tetris gameplay reduces traumatic flashbacks for health workers Curiosity driven research continues to underpin the UK’s ability to develop novel digital therapeutics that can improve mental health support.

New research shows how a simple digital intervention, including Tetris gameplay, can reduce traumatic flashbacks for health workers.

The study offers huge potential to implement a highly scalable, low cost, low intensity, easily accessible, digital treatment.

More: www.ukri.org/news/tetris-...

New national computing resources to open doors for researchers UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced a £76 million investment to launch four new national compute resources (NCRs).

Four new national compute resources (NCRs) will help solve some of society’s biggest challenges, from healthcare to climate change.

The NCRs aim to drive economic growth and keep the UK at the cutting edge of science.

Phonics to help kids read Using research to boost reading skills.

Many people across the UK struggle to see how research affects their daily lives.

That's why we're sharing stories that are making a huge difference - to spread the word that R&I is improving lives and livelihoods.

Read our first one, here: www.ukri.org/news-and-eve...

International Placement Scheme 2026 Apply to undertake a placement at an international cultural institution. You must either be:

Applications are now open for the International Placement Scheme 2026

Funded global research placements at leading cultural institutions for early career researchers and doctoral students - build expertise, networks and policy impact.

Apply by 19 March 2026

More info: www.ukri.org/opportunity/...

UKRI AI strategy makes bold choices where UK can lead the world In its first AI strategy, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) sets out a bold plan to build on the UK’s incredible strengths and potential.

Today, we’ve launched our first AI strategy that sets out a bold plan to help position the UK as a global leader in AI.

The strategy will unite universities, industry, and government to take AI research from the lab to the real-world and improve everyday lives.

More 👉 www.ukri.org/news/ukri-ai...

Pre-announcement: UKRI Translation: Proof of Concept This support is grant funding for proof-of-concept projects for early to mid-stage research commercialisation activities.

🔔Pre-announcement: UKRI Proof of Concept funding.

This opportunity aims to support the development of UK research into market-ready solutions.

Full opportunity launches 4 March 2026.

Webinars to be held on (UK time):
-18 March, 2pm
-25 March, 10am
-14 April, 3pm

👉 www.ukri.org/opportunity/...

Ancient rock art connecting communities | Future Makers Ep 3 YouTube video by UKRI Stories

🚨Episode 3 of our series Future Makers is out now!

We’re showing how research and innovation are really improving people’s lives.

This episode explores rock art left by our Neolithic ancestors 5,000 years ago, and how it's bringing communities together now:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPsR...

Photo of UKRI CEO Professor Sir Ian Chapman.

Following an open letter on 1 February, our Chief Executive Professor Sir Ian Chapman has responded to feedback and provides an update on the changes to UKRI investment approach.

Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/ukri-ce...

🎉 Smart Data Research UK is delighted to announce the recipients of its 15 new Fellowships.

The Fellows will address some of the UK’s most pressing challenges and join SDR UK's growing community of smart data researchers.

👉Meet them here: www.sdruk.ukri.org/2026/02/12/1...

Scientists’ chemical breakthrough sheds light on origins of life Researchers at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) have discovered a tiny RNA molecule that could explain how life on Earth began.

How did life on Earth begin from simple chemical building blocks?

Researchers @mrclmb.bsky.social have identified a tiny RNA molecule that could explain the answer 👀

More: www.ukri.org/news/scienti...

The NERC Peer Review College is now always open. With broader, more inclusive criteria and a quick 10–20 minute self-nomination process.

We welcome academic and non-academic experts, at all career stages, in the UK and internationally.

Apply now: engagementhub.ukri.org/nerc-funding...

The IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment Report has been approved!👏 (8 February 2026)

Congratulations to all the experts and IPBES members on this momentous science-policy milestone for people and nature!🌍🧪

Read the media release: https://bit.ly/IPBES12Media

#BizBiodiversity #IPBES12

Open letter from Ian Chapman to research and innovation community UKRI Chief Executive outlines changes to UKRI investment approach, addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC.

Today, we're sharing an open letter from our Chief Executive, Professor Sir Ian Chapman, outlining changes to UKRI investment approach, and addressing concerns about research funding and the financial position of STFC. Read his letter here: www.ukri.org/news/open-le...

Championing EDI in bioscience Reflections on advancing BBSRC’s work through its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expert Advisory Group.

“One big step forward would be for EDI to be properly recognised as part of everyone’s job, not something that’s ‘on top’ of it.”

Professor Candy Rowe, Chair of the BBSRC Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expert Advisory Group, reflects on the group’s impact across UK bioscience.

Read the blog ⬇️

Do you use the UKRI website?

Help shape how thousands of researchers and innovators access funding, news and resources. Take our 3-minute survey: engagementhub.ukri.org/ukri-communi...

⏰Closes 27 February

The Future Leaders Fellows Development Network is offering an additional post-award development opportunity for UKRI-funded Project Leads.

The Pathways programme is designed to support the next generation of research and innovation leaders in the UK: pathways.flfdevnet.com

Closes 20 February

Fixing Our Broken Planet gallery attracts over 2 million visitors A new gallery, co-funded by NERC, has welcomed more than two million visitors since opening at the Natural History Museum (NHM) in April last year.

Have you visited the Fixing Our Broken Planet exhibition at the Natural History Museum?

If so, you’re among more than two million people who’ve visited since it opened last April.

The gallery is now the museum’s second most visited space, supporting public engagement with environmental science.

LMS and UKRI group shot

Researcher Alice showing fat cells under a microscope.

Live MRI scan showing brain activity while a person exercises on an MRI bike.

Maxine preparing to use an MRI bike, giving a thumbs up to the camera.

Spent the day behind the scenes at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences @mrc-lms.bsky.social

We met researchers who grow fat cells, study ageing hearts, and yes, we tried the MRI bike.

Some of the reels from this day are now live on Instagram.

Watch them here: www.instagram.com/weareukri/

Nature’s fix to microplastics l Future Makers Ep 2 YouTube video by UKRI Stories

Did you know that #microplastics are in many skincare products? Spin-out company Naturbeads is making biodegradable alternatives, as featured in @ukri.org Future Makers. youtu.be/5MSU239d5QM?... @naturbeads.bsky.social

Why evidence matters in health research Professor George Davey Smith explains why he encourages scientists to look for ways they might be wrong.

Mistaking correlation for causation doesn’t just waste research funding, it can shape real-world health advice.

In our new blog, Prof. George Davey Smith, 2025 MRC Millennium Medal winner, explains why he encourages scientists to look for ways they might be wrong.

www.ukri.org/blog/why-evi...

AHRC and BBC New Generation Thinkers 2026 This scheme offers five early career researchers the opportunity to work with programme makers at BBC Radio 4. They will appear on a number of episodes and shadow the production process to understand ...

Still time to apply: New Generation Thinkers 2026

AHRC is partnering with BBC Radio 4 to offer five early-career researchers the opportunity to work with programme makers, appear on air, and gain first-hand experience of how ideas make it to broadcast.

Apply by 28 Jan 2026

Nature’s fix to microplastics l Future Makers Ep 2 YouTube video by UKRI Stories

🚨 Premiere alert! Episode 2 of our series Future Makers is out now.

We’re showing how research and innovation are really improving people’s lives.

This episode explores how innovators are tackling microplastics in everyday products like paint and skincare: youtu.be/5MSU239d5QM?...

Public Attitudes to Science Survey shows the public values science, but highlights concerns over AI, quality of information, and representation Ipsos, the British Science Association, and UK Research and Innovation have published the results of the 2025 Public Attitudes to Science Survey - the first since the Covid-19 pandemic, and the first ...

The Public Attitudes to Science Survey results have been published by @ukri.org and @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social. This wide-ranging report reveals that the public values science, but highlights concerns over AI, information quality, and representation: www.britishscienceassociation.org/News/public-...

Did you catch RISE on The One Show last night? 🤩

@ukri.org funded #TheRISEStudy is investigating the provision, uptake and nutritional value of school meals.