13

UK ARPA should have a distinct and flexible organisational structure.

Recommendation
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 culture in the new agency. (Paragraph 86) A new UK research funding agency 47
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
Recommendations 11 (Paragraph 81) and 13 (Paragraph 86) relate to the important balancing act in the establishment of ARIA, between facilitating a high degree of autonomy to allow for dynamic and evolving investment portfolios, while also ensuring sufficient oversight. These are important recommendations, and we hope they are reflected at the heart of the Bill, and in the design of the organisation. We believe the ARIA Bill strikes the appropriate balance with, on the one hand, requirements for the body to produce an Annual Report for Parliament and including Government representatives on ARIA’s Board; and on the other, allowing ARIA necessary agility, for instance, with regards to procurement. Furthermore, the forthcoming Framework Agreement between BEIS and ARIA will again aim to strike a balance, stipulating specific reporting requirements and certain flexibilities within non-legislative processes.
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age 5.3 yrs
Report published 12 Feb 2021