ICYMI: the latest news and opportunities from UKRI
Welcome to the latest edition of our round-up newsletter, summarising recent news and opportunities.
Advice and opportunities
Recruiting consultation group members
We’re recruiting for new members of our Research Organisation Consultation Group (ROCG). ROCG members play an important role in linking UKRI and the research and innovation sector together. You’ll have the opportunity to feed into areas of strategic importance to UKRI, drawing on your knowledge, experience and networks, to ensure that UKRI is hearing feedback from the research organisation community. Apply by 13 March?
Future Leaders Fellowships: round 10 now open
These prestigious fellowships support early career researchers and innovators in any discipline looking to develop original, ambitious projects (including in a commercial setting), working at an eligible academic or non-academic institution. Future Leaders Fellowships last up to four years, with an option to renew for three more, and there is no minimum or maximum funding limit. Apply by 18 June 2025.
Creating opportunities: rethinking economic (in)activity
We’re now offering funding for interdisciplinary projects aimed at supporting economic activity in areas with high rates of ill-health, disability and informal care. Proposals are invited from UK research organisations, with collaboration being encouraged with partners from outside of academia. Up to ￡1.2 million is available. Apply by 6 May.
Now open: UKRI Metascience AI early career fellowships
The UK Metascience Unit is offering fellowships for early career researchers to explore the ways in which AI adoption is transforming the research landscape. This includes investigating ethical, epistemic and socioeconomic challenges, and understanding how governments, industry and funding organisations should respond to these challenges. Fellowships of up to ￡260,000 are available for up to two years. Apply by 10 April.
New open access case studies and guidance
We are continuing to put our open access book policy into action, by publishing researcher case studies and guidance for publishers. The case studies feature 16 researchers from various disciplines and regions, detailing their experiences with open access monographs and edited collections, including the benefits and challenges. To support small and specialist publishers, we have also released a guide and report outlining steps for a sustainable transition to open access.
Strengthening links between research and policy
We are offering ￡3.8 million in funding to enhance the UK’s policy-to-research (P2R) infrastructure. This initiative aims to connect policymakers with research organisations, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to integrate evidence and data into policy development. Open to UK-based research institutions, the grant will support a single, 42-month project, designed to foster collaboration between public officials and academia. Apply by 6 May.?
What we’re funding
Projects using AI to boost people’s wellness
Winter can be a challenging time for our physical and mental health. UKRI-funded researchers and innovators are developing new technologies to support and improve lives over winter and throughout the year. AI technology can help keep us warm, motivate us to exercise, connect us to local community support, improve mental health and sleep, and provide access to healthy UK-grown food all year round. Find out how AI research and innovation is improving wellness
Increases to PhD stipends and improving student support
The minimum stipend we pay PhD students will increase by 8% to ￡20,780 from 1 October 2025. This is the largest real terms increase in the stipend for UKRI-funded students since 2003. Changes to our terms and conditions that govern our funding for doctoral training will take effect from the start of the 2025 to 2026 academic year. The changes include allowing students to take up to 28 weeks medical leave and removing barriers that might prevent disabled students getting support.
UKRI-India research collaboration
During a recent visit to New Delhi by Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser (UKRI Chief Executive), UKRI and key partners from the Government of India made a commitment to work together on areas of mutual importance. These include renewable energy, climate and its impact on food security and infrastructure, and the role of social sciences in creating resilient futures. There was also a commitment to explore new models of working together. Two new UK-India research projects funded under the UKRI-DST Future Telecoms programme, were announced. The projects relate to 6G networks and intelligent spectrum innovation.
Over the last 15 years, UKRI India has facilitated almost ￡400 million of UK-India funding, supporting over 250 projects that have led to the development of over 200 products and solutions that are being used to drive positive change in communities across India and the UK, and in some cases across the world. UKRI India is launching ‘Thriving Through Research and Innovation’, a campaign highlighting the work of researchers and innovators in health, agriculture, energy, industry and climate.
￡6.5m for UK-Canada quantum research
Ten innovative quantum projects will receive ￡6.5 million in joint UK-Canada funding to advance quantum communication, sensing and detection. The funding includes ￡4 million from the UK and $4.2 million CAD from Canada, with support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). The selected projects focus on quantum internet, quantum communication security and quantum sensors for brain disorders. This initiative strengthens UK-Canada scientific collaboration and supports national quantum strategies.
AI investment to boost productivity
We’re investing ￡7million in 120 projects to test AI tools that could help boost productivity for businesses across multiple sectors, including agriculture, retail and construction. The support focuses on how AI could help smaller companies tackle pressing challenges to their businesses, and how researchers can use this technology to address every day problems we face. This investment forms part of the UKRI Technology Missions Fund and builds on the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan.?
New UKRI CEO announced
Professor Sir Ian Chapman to join UKRI as new Chief Executive Officer
Science Minister Lord Vallance has?announced Professor Sir Ian Chapman as our new Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser who decided last year not to seek a second term when her five-year secondment comes to an end in June. Professor Sir Ian Chapman is the CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). He is currently a member of the UKRI Board, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and an elected Fellow of the Royal Society.
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Events
Horizon Europe Showcase: celebrating one year of association
Join us on 18 March for an event to mark the UK’s first year of association with Horizon Europe. This event will highlight achievements, funding opportunities and best practices for engaging with the world’s largest research and innovation programme. Open to researchers, innovators and leaders in strategic research development, the free event offers talks, panel discussions, breakout sessions and networking with peers and National Contact Points. The event will take place at the Kia Oval in London.
To watch
101 jobs that change the world
We have launched season three of our 101 jobs that change the world campaign. The campaign celebrates the diverse and often hidden roles that contribute to the success of the research and innovation system.
In the latest video of the new series, our presenter Zoe goes behind the scenes with Reuben Chesterman, a technician at RAL Space who builds and assembles mission-critical hardware – like components for the Mars Rover.
Zoe also recently met Hannah Shaw, a Drosophila (fruit fly) Technician. Hannah is part of a team at the Francis Crick Institute looking after and working with thousands of fruit flies for science. These tiny insects are key to unlocking new insights into sleep, our body clock and even Alzheimer’s disease.
How video game tech helped make a performance lab
London's Royal College of Music has used video game technology to create a laboratory to help performers face their fears in a safe environment. As well as mimicking the acoustics of different settings, the performance lab comes equipped with a virtual audience that can be tweaked to suit performers' needs.