UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body that invests in research and innovation across the United Kingdom to advance knowledge, improve lives, and drive economic growth. It distributes approximately £8 billion of public funds annually to research and innovation projects and the people behind them. Its council network brings together nine bodies, including seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, and Innovate UK.
The organisation operates across a broad range of technical domains, from biodiversity conservation and quantum computing to space telescopes and healthcare innovation. Its remit spans the full research and innovation ecosystem, working with higher education institutions, science organisations, and technology partners throughout the United Kingdom and globally.
For legal professionals, UKRI presents the regulatory and governance complexities inherent in a large public body responsible for substantial public expenditure. The organisation's structure - coordinating nine distinct councils under a single umbrella - creates a layered legal environment involving public law, funding agreements, intellectual property matters, and cross-council policy alignment.
UKRI states that it aims to give everyone the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from research and innovation, bringing together people and organisations both nationally and internationally.
