23 Jan 2018
The new Universities and Science Minister, Sam Gyimah, launched UKRI’s Research and Innovation Infrastructure Roadmap project yesterday.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to be launched in April, is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to act as the single funding organisation for research and innovation in the UK.
One of the body’s first major projects, the roadmap will map the UK’s nationally important research and innovation infrastructure capabilities for first time. As well as large scientific facilities and major equipment, it will map resources such as collections, archives or scientific data, e-infrastructures such as data and computing systems, and communication networks.
The intention is to enhance the UK’s research efficiency and effectiveness, as well as identifying new research and innovation capability needs and opportunities. Its first edition will be published in early 2019, following extensive consultation.
Universities and Science Minister Sam Gyimah said, ‘Boosting research, development and innovation is at the heart of the Industrial Strategy and that is why we are investing an extra £2.3 billion in R&D spending in 2021-22.’
Chief Executive designate of UKRI, Professor Sir Mark Walport said, ‘One of UK Research and Innovation's key tasks is to make sure that the UK's businesses and researchers are ready and able to seize the opportunity presented by the industrial strategy. So I'm very pleased that we are starting the process to map out the UK's nationally and internationally important research and innovation infrastructure. This will enable us to make sure we are getting the absolute best out the infrastructure we already have, and identify what else we will need to stay competitive in the next 10-15 years.’
This initiative will play a key role in SCI’s core mission to support the commercialisation of science into industry for the benefit of society, and we welcome the opportunity to help shape the roadmap during consultation.
Visit Blog