A new UK research funding agency

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Apr 2020 Closed: 25 Jun 2021 Parliament page
The December 2019 Queen’s Speech set out the Government’s intention for: a new approach to funding emerging fields of research and technology. It will provide long term funding to support visionary high-risk, high-pay off scientific, engineering, and technology ideas The October 2019 Queen’s Speech briefing note explained that this would … Read more
12 Recommendations
9 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
6 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 16 events
28 May
2021
Correspondence
12 May
2021
Correspondence
26 Apr
2021
Report published
17 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
17 Mar
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
16 Mar
2021
Correspondence
12 Feb
2021
Report published
11 Nov
2020
Oral evidence
11 Nov
2020
Correspondence
11 Nov
2020
Correspondence
11 Nov
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 5, Palace of Westminster
16 Oct
2020
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
17 Mar 2021
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Dominic Cummings, Former Chief Adviser to the Prime Minister Jo Shanmugalingam · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
11 Nov 2020
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Amanda Solloway · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser · UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Sarah Hodgetts · Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Sir John Kingman · UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
7 Oct 2020
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Formal Meeting
Jo Johnson · Science, Research and Innovation (2016–2018 and July–September 2019) Professor Mariana Mazzucato · University College London (UCL) Professor Richard Jones · The University of Manchester Professor Richard Jones · University of Manchester Professor Sir Mark Walport, Former CEO, UK Research and Innovation (2017–2020)
23 Sep 2020
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Dr Antoine Petit · French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) Dr Peter Highnam · Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Dr Regina Dugan · Wellcome Leap William Bonvillian · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third report: A new UK research funding agency HC 778 12 Feb 2021 21 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
21 results
1 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
The creation of UKRI has established a more coherent framework for the organisation of Government...
The creation of UKRI has established a more coherent framework for the organisation of Government funding for research and innovation. There are reasons to think that UKRI, following its initial period of being established, could benefit from refreshing its processes … Read more
Government Response
In recommendation 20 (paragraph 117) the Committee refers to bureaucratic constraints on UKRI. The Government has been working closely with UKRI on a review of bureaucracy as trailed in the … Read more
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2 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
It is strange that more than a year after its inclusion in two successive Queen’s...
It is strange that more than a year after its inclusion in two successive Queen’s Speeches, the Government has not clearly articulated the need for, or intended remit of, the proposed agency. To date, it seems to be a brand … Read more
Government Response
The Science and Technology Committee published their report into a ‘new high-risk, high-reward research funding agency’. The report offers major points of alignment with the Government’s policy, as now announced, … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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3 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
Questions about UK ARPA’s remit, organisation and governance would be made much more straightforward if...
Questions about UK ARPA’s remit, organisation and governance would be made much more straightforward if the agency was established to serve a clear ‘client’— most likely a Government department, as is the case with US DARPA, which serves the Department … Read more
Government Response
The Science and Technology Committee published their report into a ‘new high-risk, high-reward research funding agency’. The report offers major points of alignment with the Government’s policy, as now announced, … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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4 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
The Government must, in its response to this Report, clearly define UK ARPA’s purpose.
The Government must, in its response to this Report, clearly define UK ARPA’s purpose. This will, necessarily, be tied to and shaped by a specific client the Government identifies for ARPA.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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5 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
UK ARPA can play an important role in the research and innovation system by pursuing...
UK ARPA can play an important role in the research and innovation system by pursuing goal-oriented research, driven by societal need, with the potential to produce lasting, transformational changes. UK ARPA should focus on ‘mission- based’ or ‘challenge-led’ research’, which … Read more
Government Response
Through recommendations 4 (Paragraph 57), 5 (Paragraph 60), 7 (Paragraph 72), 8 (Paragraph 73) and 9 (Paragraph 74), the Committee articulate a clear stance that ARIA ought to have explicitly … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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6 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
It is clear that the new funding agency should embrace risk—and be prepared for some...
It is clear that the new funding agency should embrace risk—and be prepared for some of its projects to fail. Further, this should be combined with a long-term outlook, with research programmes spanning 10–15 years. Currently, it appears that funding … Read more
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7 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
It is clear that UK ARPA’s proposed budget limits it to pursuing one or two...
It is clear that UK ARPA’s proposed budget limits it to pursuing one or two central missions—any more than this would risk spreading its budget too thin, thus undermining its effectiveness. Given the size of UK ARPA’s proposed budget we … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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8 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
The Government must think carefully about what the new agency’s focus might be before recruiting...
The Government must think carefully about what the new agency’s focus might be before recruiting a director. It should consider the potential areas of focus recommended in the written and oral evidence submitted to this inquiry. It could also consider … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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9 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
The Haldane principle should not apply to how UK ARPA’s overall focus is determined.
The Haldane principle should not apply to how UK ARPA’s overall focus is determined. Ministers should play a role in shaping ARPA’s initial focus.
Government Response
Through recommendations 4 (Paragraph 57), 5 (Paragraph 60), 7 (Paragraph 72), 8 (Paragraph 73) and 9 (Paragraph 74), the Committee articulate a clear stance that ARIA ought to have explicitly … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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10 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
US DARPA and its ‘clones’ have shown the advantages of having a small, lean organisation...
US DARPA and its ‘clones’ have shown the advantages of having a small, lean organisation with limited bureaucracy. Nevertheless, we think that the ultimate form and structure of the organisation should be shaped by and evolve with its appointed director. Read more
Government Response
Recommendations 10 (Paragraph 77), 12 (Paragraph 84), and 14 (Paragraph 87) relate to the choice of, and responsibility imbued upon, ARIA’s senior leadership. We agree that the unique autonomy granted … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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11 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
We welcome the Government’s commitment to give UK ARPA independence over both operational and strategic...
We welcome the Government’s commitment to give UK ARPA independence over both operational and strategic matters. With that said, there will still be a need for appropriate Government oversight of the organisation’s operations—given that £800 million of public money has … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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12 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
The pool of potential candidates for director should not necessarily be restricted to expert scientists.
The pool of potential candidates for director should not necessarily be restricted to expert scientists. The Government should be open minded on who the new agency’s director might be, should not disregard anyone at this early stage, and should be … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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13 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
UK ARPA should have a distinct and flexible organisational structure.
UK ARPA should have a distinct and flexible organisational structure. The Government should seek to create an environment characterised by a high degree of autonomy and limited bureaucracy. The Government should explain how it intends to establish and foster this … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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14 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
It is clear that the agency’s director will play a crucial role in defining its...
It is clear that the agency’s director will play a crucial role in defining its culture. The new director must therefore be committed to creating a culture that empowers and emboldens UK ARPA’s employees. Depending on how closely the Government … Read more
Government Response
Recommendations 10 (Paragraph 77), 12 (Paragraph 84), and 14 (Paragraph 87) relate to the choice of, and responsibility imbued upon, ARIA’s senior leadership. We agree that the unique autonomy granted … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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15 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
UK ARPA’s director should play a key role in the recruitment of its personnel.
UK ARPA’s director should play a key role in the recruitment of its personnel. Programme managers should be ambitious ‘disruptors’, from a range of backgrounds, who are impact oriented, focused on the advancement of science and have CEO- like qualities. … Read more
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16 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
We recognise that there could be advantages to establishing the new UK research funding agency...
We recognise that there could be advantages to establishing the new UK research funding agency inside UKRI: it would be quicker; facilitate its communication and collaboration with the existing research and innovation system; and reduce the risk of threatening the … Read more
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17 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
The vehicle used to establish UK ARPA (i.e.
The vehicle used to establish UK ARPA (i.e. legislation) must allow for clear lines of communication between it, UKRI and the wider system. This could be established through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that both parties agree to. It should … Read more
Government Response
Recommendation 16 (Paragraph 99) and 17 (Paragraph 101) relate to ARIA’s relationship with UKRI. As should be clear from publication of the Bill since this Committee Report, we have clearly … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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18 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
We welcome the multi-year funding settlement for UKRI set out in the November 2020 Spending...
We welcome the multi-year funding settlement for UKRI set out in the November 2020 Spending Review, which not only provides much-needed certainty to UKRI and the wider research community, but it should also help UKRI support public and private sector … Read more
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19 Conclusion
Third report: A new UK research fu…
While the Government is thinking about the best way to establish a new UK research...
While the Government is thinking about the best way to establish a new UK research funding agency and acting on its pledge to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy in the UK research and innovation system, it is a good time for it … Read more
Government Response
In recommendation 20 (paragraph 117) the Committee refers to bureaucratic constraints on UKRI. The Government has been working closely with UKRI on a review of bureaucracy as trailed in the … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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20 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
The Government should carry out a review, commencing before the end of the next financial...
The Government should carry out a review, commencing before the end of the next financial year (i.e. 2021–2022), to explore how UKRI can operate with fewer bureaucratic constraints and more freedom and flexibility in how it allocates funds, while ensuring … Read more
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21 Recommendation
Third report: A new UK research fu…
There is scope for improvements with respect to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the...
There is scope for improvements with respect to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in the current research and innovation system, as illustrated by the 2014–15 to 2018–19 data from UKRI. The system benefits from having people with different ideas, different … Read more
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Correspondence 6 letters
28 May 2021 Correspondence from Rt Hon Amanda Solloway MP, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, regarding the Government’s response to the Committee’s Report into A new UK research funding agency
Parliament page
12 May 2021 Correspondence from the Chair to Amanda Solloway MP, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, relating to the Government response to A new UK research funding agency Report
Parliament page
16 Mar 2021 Correspondence from Amanda Solloway MP to the Chair regarding the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) Bill
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11 Nov 2020 Correspondence from the Chair to Dominic Cummings re invitation to give oral evidence
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11 Nov 2020 Correspondence from Chloe Smith MP, Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution, to the Chair re invitation for Dominic Cummings to give oral evidence
Parliament page
16 Oct 2020 Correspondence from Amanda Solloway MP, Minister for Science, Research & Innovation, relating to A New Research Funding Agency
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