On 18 December, UKRI set out more detail on how it will invest its record four-year £38.6 billion allocation from Government.
The allocations explainer provides information on how UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) funding will be invested across priority ‘buckets' as set out by Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and UKRI CEO Ian Chapman at the recent Innovation for Growth Summit.
It also provides a breakdown of investment across the Industrial Strategy priority sectors.
The priority ‘buckets' are:
- £8 billion on targeted research and development (R&D) addressing national and societal priorities, including clean energy, health resilience and national security
- £7 billion to support innovative company growth, helping UK businesses scale and commercialise cutting-edge technologies
- £14 billion for the curiosity-driven research that underpins the UK R&D system
The rest of UKRI's £38.6 billion settlement will be used for foundational investments that cut across these three areas, including in skills and infrastructure.
Read more on the UKRI website.
Last updated: 19 December 2025