Research, development and innovation (RDI) organisational landscape: an independent review
An examination of the mix of UK organisations performing RDI, with recommendations to make the most of the UK's research organisational landscape, ensuring it is effective, sustainable and responsive to global challenges - and the government response highlighting the action it will take to build a more diverse, resilient and investable landscape.
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Details
Update: 22 November 2023
Government response to Sir Paul Nurse’s Review of the Research, Development and Innovation Organisational Landscape published.
Government response
The government welcomed Sir Paul Nurse’s Review of the Research, Development and Innovation Organisational Landscape and published its response in November 2023.
The response outlines actions the government is taking to foster an RDI organisational landscape that is more diverse, more resilient and more attractive to investment, including through publishing the Science & Technology Framework (S&T) and creating the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
The response makes a wide range of commitments, such as: maximising the impact of public sector RDI organisations, for example by providing £25 million to provide core small and medium-scale research infrastructure; supporting RDI talent by, for example, establishing world-class Discovery Fellowships backed by a £250 million endowment; and making the UK a world-leader for philanthropic partnerships, demonstrated by the recently announced new consortium of philanthropic funders for UK Biobank. All of this will be underpinned by a data- and evidence-driven approach.
This vision for a landscape that is more diverse, resilient, and investable will be delivered through the implementation of the S&T Framework, as our foundational guide to cement the UK’s place as a science and technology superpower by 2030.
Alongside this response, we are publishing an annex which outlines how the government is addressing each of the review’s recommendations.
Background
The Review of the Research, Development and Innovation Organisational Landscape was announced in July 2021 in the UK Innovation Strategy.
This independent review was led by Nobel Laureate Sir Paul Nurse, Chief Executive and Director of the Francis Crick Institute.
The review’s findings and recommendations aim to ensure that UK science can go from strength to strength, driving long term sustainable growth, productivity, and prosperity, delivering tangible improvements to the lives of communities across the country, and ensuring that we remain internationally competitive in the years to come.
The terms of reference set out the original goals, purpose and scope of the review.
Updates to this page
Published 1 October 2021Last updated 22 November 2023 + show all updates
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Government response and actions to Independent Review of the Research, development and innovation organisational landscape published.
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Added letter about the review from the DSIT Secretary of State to Sir Paul Nurse.
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Final report of the independent review of RDI published.
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Added a January 2022 progress update providing details of the engagement undertaken to date as part of this Review. It launches an 'invitation for views' for individuals and organisations to provide views on matters covered by the review and the wider RDI organisational landscape. Deadline for responses: 5pm Friday 18 February 2022.
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First published.