UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the public body responsible for allocating £8bn in taxpayer funds for research and innovation annually, is facing tough decisions on future project funding, according to its chief.

In a letter, UKRI's Ian Chapman stated that the government has instructed the organization to prioritize quality over quantity, which will inevitably lead to some projects being rejected.

This shift in approach marks a significant overhaul of how Britain's scientific research and innovation are funded and prioritized, sparking concerns among researchers.

Although the changes are still being finalized, Chapman anticipates that they will be fully implemented by April 2027.

During a subsequent briefing, Chapman declined to elaborate on the criteria for selecting future research projects.

However, he noted that the overall research budget is expected to increase, with a greater emphasis on commercial applications.

Funding for "curiosity-driven" research, an area where the UK excels, will remain at current levels, which effectively means a decrease in real terms over time.

Examples of such research include studies on blood clot detection, plastic-eating enzymes, and infant learning patterns.

Chapman acknowledged that making choices about funding means some projects will be left out, but he believes that not making these choices would ultimately harm everyone involved.

UKRI comprises eight research councils, each focusing on various disciplines, including medicine and biotechnology.

One of these councils, the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC), oversees research in areas like astronomy, computational science, and nuclear physics.

The STFC is responsible for the UK's membership in international organizations like Cern and the European Space Agency, and it operates some of the world's largest telescopes, but it has been tasked with finding £162m in savings.

According to STFC's executive chair, Michele Dougherty, the council's ambitions exceeded its funding, leading to the need for cuts.

Dougherty assured that there are no plans to withdraw from existing international commitments.

She also indicated that it is too early to determine whether the council will fund new projects in the near future, but if it does, it would likely come at the expense of current projects.

Other research councils have also suspended grants for new research initiatives.

Professor Chris Lintott of Oxford University noted that the UK has a strong track record in scientific impact and space-related industries.

Lintott expressed concern that the funding changes could undermine this success story and threaten the stability of cutting-edge science.

The changes have also affected Innovate UK, which provides grants and guidance to small and medium-sized businesses.

The BBC has learned that local business advisors have been let go, and remaining staff have been instructed not to take on new clients, including science and tech businesses seeking funding and support.

Chapman stated that in the past, Innovate UK has supported thousands of start-ups with small amounts of funding.

The organization is now shifting its focus to supporting fewer companies with more substantial backing.

Although Chapman did not disclose the selection criteria for these companies, he emphasized that they would receive more support due to the reduced number of recipients.

In the commercial sector, approximately 75% of businesses that receive private funding from venture capitalists ultimately fail.

Identifying successful ventures early on is notoriously challenging.

Stephen Tulip, UK manager of the App Association, criticized the decision to reduce budgets and staffing for SME support at Innovate UK, arguing that it contradicts the needs of the domestic start-up and entrepreneur community.

Tulip warned that cutting access to expertise and funding for UK SMEs would harm the country's growth agenda and force start-ups to seek investment and support elsewhere.

Mike Griffin, founder of a sustainable 3D printing company that received support from Innovate UK, shared similar concerns.

Griffin emphasized that early-stage backing is crucial for small companies, serving as a bridge to market, and that shifting support toward larger, later-stage companies would put many innovative ventures at risk.

Without sufficient support, many practical and life-changing innovations may not survive long enough to scale up and reach their full potential.

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