UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is investing £88 million to modernise research laboratories and expand our world-leading facilities to equip scientists working on research challenges such as climate change and COVID-19.
The funding will:
- support pioneering science and innovation in the UK
- deliver benefits to the UK economy and society
- help tackle global challenges including coronavirus and climate change.
Funding will be allocated via Research England, which is part of UKRI, and the devolved funding bodies:
- £50 million for England
- £8.4 million for Scotland
- £1.7 million for Wales
- £0.9 million for Northern Ireland.
COVID-19-safe upgrades
Research labs will receive COVID-19-safe upgrades, including:
- changing the layout and equipment to move workstations further apart
- installing screens
- improving air-handling and filtering systems.
A further £15 million will be earmarked to support facilities that enable regional economic growth and £12 million for maintenance and refurbishments of existing infrastructure from the UK Research Partnerships Investment Fund.
David Sweeney, Executive Chair of Research England, said:
The UK’s research and innovation system needs state-of-the-art facilities to support researchers in pushing at the frontiers of knowledge and tackling global challenges.
Bringing together diverse teams with a range of skills, these facilities enable world-leading research and the benefits that brings to the economy and society.
World-class research infrastructure
The announcement is the next stage of funding allocation following the announcement of £300 million investment in world-class research infrastructure by the Business Secretary Alok Sharma in July.
It builds on existing research and innovations infrastructure funding of Higher Education Research Capital managed by Research England (part of UKRI), and the UK’s other three higher education funding bodies.
