UK Government reveals plans for long-term R&D funding

The UK Government has announced new plans towards its research and development (R&D) funding approach by introducing new ten-year budgets or selected activities

This new budget is designed to offer long-term certainty for researchers and institutions, helping to unlock private investment and drive economic growth as part of the UK’s industrial and innovation agenda.

A boost for long-term innovation

The new approach will allow government departments and public bodies to allocate R&D funding over a decade, offering stability to world-class research organisations working on complex, long-term projects.

These include areas such as antimicrobial resistance, quantum computing, and other challenges that require sustained investment to achieve breakthrough results.

By reducing uncertainty around funding, the government hopes to foster an environment where ambitious, high-impact research can thrive, potentially transforming the UK economy’s health, technology, and other vital sectors.

Key criteria for ten-year funding

To guide which projects and organisations will receive long-term support, the government has outlined four key criteria:

1. Infrastructure and core capabilities – Funding will support developing or maintaining critical national research infrastructure that can’t be sustained through short-term funding cycles.
2. Talent attraction and retention – Long-term support will help build and sustain a skilled workforce in priority areas, ensuring the UK remains globally competitive in research and innovation.
3. International collaboration – Projects that open up new global partnerships with strategic benefits will be prioritised, helping the UK stay connected to cutting-edge science worldwide.
4. Partnerships and business collaboration – Funding will target areas where industry, charities, or philanthropic organisations are ready to co-invest but where short-term funding has previously hindered partnership development.

Economic impact and strategic alignment

Evidence suggests that every £1 of public investment in R&D attracts £2 in private investment and generates £7 in net economic benefits. The government expects to stimulate greater business confidence and investment in the UK’s research ecosystem by locking in ten-year commitments.

This policy also aligns with key manifesto commitments and responds to calls from the research community and reports like the Landscape Review of R&D, emphasising long-term planning for impactful science.

Maintaining flexibility for emerging priorities

While focusing on long-term funding, the government also ensures that departments retain the flexibility to respond to emerging scientific challenges. Public bodies will be encouraged to limit how much of their R&D budget can be tied up in ten-year commitments at any one time, balancing long-term stability with short-term agility.

Next steps and implementation

In collaboration with the Treasury and other stakeholders, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has developed the framework for this new funding model. Each department will run its selection process, guided by the new criteria, to identify projects best suited for ten-year investment.

Details about the first round of selected recipients will be released in the second phase of the Spending Review. These announcements will also act as indicators of the government’s long-term priorities and support the development of the UK’s upcoming Industrial Strategy.