News story

Allocations announced for record-level 拢25 billion R&D budget

Allocations published for record 拢25.1 billion R&D budget settlement across UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)鈥檚 councils and major programmes.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government
Graphic withHM Government logo, UKRI logo and text: 拢25.1bn a record level of funding for UK research

New allocations have today (Monday 30 May) been published for the record 拢25.1 billion Research and Development budget settlement being distributed across UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)鈥檚 councils and major programmes.

UKRI鈥檚 Research & Development budget will reach over 拢8.8 billion in 2024-2025, its highest ever level, allowing for the delivery of an ambitious agenda through its 9 councils.

This includes:

  • a 拢16.8 billion investment over the 3-year period through core budgets for UKRI鈥檚 7 Research Councils, Research England and Innovate UK
  • a 拢2 billion investment over the 3-year period for a new collective cross-council approach to talent initiatives
  • a 拢2.9 billion investment over the 3-year period in infrastructure projects

Science Minister George Freeman said:

As we look back at the last 2 years, it is hard to imagine a time when we have owed more to scientists, researchers and innovators.

I have never been prouder of the UK鈥檚 world-leading research base, which is why I am so pleased to have awarded 拢25.1 billion, the highest level of funding to date, to our national science and research agency, UK Research and Innovation. This significant investment will support our ambitions to made the UK a science superpower, delivering growth opportunities right across the country while helping the research community tackle the great scientific challenges of our time.

This significant investment will support the UK鈥檚 already world-leading research work being done across the country, delivering local economic impact via R&D funding, attracting and developing top research talent, and helping unlock private sector investment.

UKRI contribute significantly to the government鈥檚 Levelling Up agenda, having developed a new approach to growing promising enterprise clusters, and driving the adoption of innovation 鈥� from technology advisory services to boost local diffusion, to providing access to competitive grants, and supporting links for innovators to private finance and investors.

The settlement, providing record-level funding for UKRI, also represents significant progress towards achieving the UK鈥檚 target for R&D investment reaching 2.4% of GDP by 2027, these ambitious plans, combined with the government鈥檚 generous R&D tax programme, will give businesses the confidence to invest in the wake of the pandemic.

Further details on how UKRI鈥檚 拢25.1 billion budget has been allocated are provided in .

Updates to this page

Published 30 May 2022