‘Dr Peter Highnam’s breadth of experience in leading the development and translation of transformational ideas will be a huge asset to ARIA and the UK’s research innovation system.’
The UK Government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is to be led by Dr Peter Highnam. As the organisation’s first Chief Executive, he will lead its formation and direct the initial funding of ‘high-risk programmes.’
Dr Highnam is joining ARIA from the US’ Research Agency DARPA, where he has held the role of Deputy Director since February 2018. He will join ARIA on 3 May 2022, for a fixed term of five years. ARIA will have a budget of £800 million, and the Government has said that the new organisation is a critical part of the UK’s science and research agenda.
In a statement Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation said; ‘Dr Peter Highnam’s breadth of experience in leading the development and translation of transformational ideas will be a huge asset to ARIA and the UK’s research innovation system.’
Commenting in the journal Nature, David Bott, SCI’s Head of Innovation, who previously led the Technology Strategy Board, a UK Government body, said that ‘Highnam looks like he knows his way around the US Government, but he will also be aware that the UK is different.’
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