TO BE PUBLISHED October 2026
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This conference will examine next steps for UK research and innovation policy, funding and delivery, in the context of emerging government priorities and changes to the organisation of public investment. Areas for discussion include strategic priorities and system reform, research funding and institutional sustainability, innovation and regional growth, international collaboration, and the development of the research workforce.
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to consider the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper and its proposals for research funding, assessment, greater collaboration and specialisation, and the contribution of higher education to wider growth and skills priorities. Delegates will also consider measures in the Modern Industrial Strategy relating to priority sectors and regional strengths, alongside changes in UKRI funding priorities and plans in the UKRI AI Research and Innovation Strategic Framework for research capability, infrastructure, skills and talent.
Delegates will assess how these developments are being translated into decisions on funding, programmes and delivery, including the respective roles of UKRI, research councils, universities, research organisations, businesses and other public bodies. The relationship between national strategic priorities and the breadth of the research base will be considered, including choices around mission-led, strategically directed and curiosity-driven research, as well as institutional autonomy, research independence and the development of distinctive areas of strength.
Further sessions will look at the contribution of research and innovation to commercialisation, business investment and growth across the UK. This will include regional innovation and knowledge exchange, support for spin-outs and scaling businesses, international partnerships and talent attraction, and the development of a skilled, diverse and sustainable research workforce.
Strategic priorities, funding & system reform
The conference will assess implications of emerging government and UKRI priorities for the allocation and administration of public research funding. The choices involved for institutions, disciplines and regions will be discussed, alongside questions about funding adequacy, full economic cost recovery, institutional resilience and the long-term strength of the wider research system. Sessions will also consider the UKRI AI Research and Innovation Strategic Framework, including its implications for research priorities, infrastructure, skills and doctoral and fellowship provision.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- policy: translation of national priorities into UKRI funding and programme decisions - roles of research councils and other funding bodies - clarity, continuity and accountability in delivery
- funding reform: White Paper proposals - quality-related research funding, HEIF and competitive awards - implications for the longer-term structure of public investment
- research assessment: future development - links with collaboration, specialisation and institutional strategy - implications for disciplinary breadth and research strengths across institutions
- sustainability: adequacy of public investment and full economic cost recovery - institutional financial resilience - the contribution of collaboration, efficiency and specialisation
- research focus: curiosity-driven, mission-led and strategically-directed research - support for emerging technologies and established areas of strength - maintaining diversity across disciplines
- capability and infrastructure: investment in facilities, equipment and research capacity - skills requirements in priority fields - immediate strategic needs and longer-term capability
- autonomy and independence: relationship between national priorities and institutional decision-making - implications of greater collaboration and specialisation
- missions and delivery: implementation of the R&D Missions Accelerator - programme design and allocation - collaboration between research organisations, businesses and public services
- AI: commitments in the UKRI AI R&I Strategic Framework - relationship between AI-related investment and the wider research base - doctoral and fellowship routes
Innovation, commercialisation & regional growth
The agenda will look at approaches to strengthening the translation, adoption and commercialisation of research, and the roles of universities, research organisations, businesses, investors and public bodies. This includes the relationship between national programmes and locally determined priorities, including the place of regional investment alongside funding based on research excellence and national strategic priorities.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- knowledge exchange: collaboration between universities, businesses and government - access to research expertise and facilities - strengthening routes from research to practical application
- commercialisation: support for spin-outs, start-ups and scale-ups - intellectual property, investment readiness and management capability - addressing gaps between early research and market adoption
- business innovation: role of Innovate UK in supporting business-led R&I - implementation of the Growth Catalyst programme - links between public support, private investment and specialist advice
- local partnerships: Local Innovation Partnerships Fund implementation - locally-led decisions on funding and delivery - collaboration between research institutions, businesses and regional authorities
- clusters and capability: development of regional innovation clusters - relationships between research, infrastructure, skills and local economic priorities - adoption and diffusion of emerging technologies
- investment and growth: attracting private and external finance - demonstrating economic and wider public value - supporting innovative firms to develop and scale in the UK
- place-based investment: research strengths and capacity across institutions and regions - HEI contribution to local development - locally led programmes within wider UK R&I policy
- regional performance: government response to the SIT Committee’s Innovation, Growth and the Regions report - tracking innovation cluster investment, collaboration and local economic impact
International collaboration & the research workforce
Further sessions examine priorities for international research collaboration and for attracting, developing and retaining the people needed to support future research capability. Discussion will range from participation in European and wider global programmes to doctoral training, research careers, mobility and workplace practice.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- European programmes: experience of UK association to Horizon Europe - preparation for Framework Programme 10 - implications of evolving European R&I arrangements
- global partnerships: development of bilateral and multilateral research collaboration - leveraging areas of distinctive UK strengths - implications for institutions, funders and research teams
- international recruitment: priorities for the Global Talent Taskforce and Global Talent Fund - researcher mobility and anticipated changes to visa arrangements - competitiveness of the UK offer
- skills and pathways: linking research priorities and future skills needs - doctoral training, fellowships and early-career development - UKRI AI R&I Strategic Framework commitments
- research careers: employment conditions, career progression and retention - flexible and sustainable career routes - approaches to reducing unnecessary administrative demands
- diversity: implementation of the Women in Research Charter - recruitment, progression and retention across disciplines - flexible working - representation in senior research and academic leadership
- system capacity: relationships between international recruitment and the domestic talent pipeline - maintaining capability across institutions and disciplines - long-term workforce sustainability
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Business, Innovation, science and Trade; Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Education; Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport; Department for Work and Pensions; Department for the Economy, NI; Ministry of Justice; HM Revenue and Customs; Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology; Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; and The Scottish Government.
