Agenda

Woburn Hall

• Chair: Professor Andrew Jones, Vice-Chancellor and President, Brunel University of London, and Policy Lead (Research and Innovation), Universities UK Board

• Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair, Research England, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

• Lord Patrick Vallance of Balham, Minister for State for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, UK Government

• Helen Cross, Director of Research and Innovation, Scottish Funding Council, and Vice Chair of the REF 2029 Steering Group - slides

This will be followed by a Q&A session with:

• Rebecca Fairbairn, REF Director
• Dr Steven Hill, Director of Research, Research England, and Chair of the REF Steering Group
• Harriet Barnes, Director of Research, Innovation and Skills, Medr, and Member of the REF 2029 Steering Group

• Jamie Arrowsmith, Director, Universities UK International
• Adam Jackson, Director – International Research and Innovation, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
• Dr Beñat Bilbao-Osorio, Research and Innovation Counsellor, EU Delegation to the UK
• Dr Fabia Jones, First Counsellor, European Parliament Liaison Office in the UK

With the UK now fully associated to Horizon Europe, this session will take stock of progress to date and explore future opportunities. Speakers will reflect on the benefits and challenges of association, and what is needed to position the UK for the next programme from 2028. Delegates will have the chance to discuss the UK’s role in European research collaboration and what effective participation means for universities.

Choose one to attend

Woburn Hall

• Chair: Professor Andrew Jones, Vice-Chancellor and President, Brunel University of London, and Policy Lead (Research and Innovation), Universities UK Board
• Professor Marcus Munafò, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, University of Bath, and Executive Director, UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) - slides
• Stephanie Neave, Chief Executive Officer, UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) - slides
• Dr Victoria Moody, Director of Higher Education and Research, Jisc - slides
• Rod Viggers, Director Risk, Assurance, Counter Fraud and Investigations, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) - slides

This session will explore how the sector is taking the lead in reducing research bureaucracy and streamlining costs through collaboration. Panellists will share examples of shared services, regional initiatives, and other collective approaches. The discussion will consider what works, where additional support is needed and how universities can drive sector-wide transformation in research management.

UUK Boardroom

• Chair: Dan Hurley, Deputy Director, Policy, Universities UK
• Dr Ben Bleasdale, Director of Public Opinion, Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) - slides

Drawing on new UK-wide survey findings and public dialogue insights, this session explores what drives trust in R&D and the conditions under which support strengthens or weakens. It reflects the report’s key themes, including demographic and regional variations in understanding, the public’s expectations of transparency and accountability, and how people perceive the everyday relevance of research. The discussion will examine how universities can better demonstrate societal value, improve visibility of their work, and build more meaningful connections with communities.

Choose one to attend

Woburn Hall

• Chair: Greg Wade, Head of Innovation Policy, Universities UK
• Dr Helen Turner, Director, Midlands Innovation
• Tony Hickson, Chief Business Officer, Cancer Research UK/Cancer Research Horizons
• Professor Uzma Khan, Vice Principal (Economic Development and Innovation) and Deputy Chief Operating Officer, University of Glasgow - slides
• Nicholas Gardner, Consultant Chief of Staff, Boscobel & Partners - slides

This session will examine how universities are aligning with regional innovation strategies and building thriving spinout pipelines. Speakers will consider what makes spinouts successful at different scales, including equity models, scale-up support, and partnerships with investors. Delegates will discuss how local and regional ecosystems can best support innovation.

UUK Boardroom

• Chair: Professor Chris Pearce, Vice Principal (Research & Knowledge Exchange), University of Glasgow
• Lorna Wilson, Managing Director of Research and Innovation Services, Durham University, and Chair, Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA)
• Dr Alexis Brown, Head of Global Insights, British Council
• Michael Bright, Associate Director for International Policy and Stakeholder Engagement, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

International collaboration is fundamental to UK higher education; over 60% of UK publications are produced with an international co-author, and our universities partner successfully with colleagues across the globe. In a time where geopolitics is moving rapidly, with significant implications for research and innovation partnerships, UK universities are needing to re-evaluate their approaches to ensure secure and mutually beneficial partnerships in a complex landscape. 

Join for panel reflections and discussions with colleagues about how the UK’s universities can continue delivering secure and fruitful collaborations in a changing world.

This session will be under Chatham House rule.

Foster & Bloomsbury Room

• Dr Simon Jones, Strategic Projects Lead, Prolific - slides

As universities face growing pressure to modernise and deliver efficient, digital-first research support, what can we learn from how researchers themselves are already working? Drawing on anonymised insights from over 35,000 researchers using Prolific across every UUK member institution, this session explores how digital tools are transforming research operations. We’ll share sector-wide patterns in adoption, researcher challenges, and successful institutional practices. Attendees will gain evidence-based perspectives on how their own institutions compare - and practical ideas for embedding sustainable, digital transformation across their research tools.

Woburn Hall

• Chair: Professor Andrew Jones, Vice-Chancellor and President, Brunel University of London, and Policy Lead (Research and Innovation), Universities UK Board

• Holly Yates, Director, Science, Research and Innovation, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
• Louise Wren, Director of External Affairs, Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC)
• Matt McCallum, Deputy Director, Corporate Strategy, Planning, and Performance, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
• Professor Christopher Smith, Executive Chair, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

This session will explore the evolving landscape of research funding in the UK and internationally. Speakers will discuss where the major funding opportunities lie, how universities can position themselves to secure them, and what changes are on the horizon.

• Dr Melissa Jogie, Director of Research Culture, Impact and Early Career Development, University of Roehampton
• Dr Amy Devenney, Research Fellow, University of Bristol - slides
• Sally Puzey, Director of Research Services, Aston University - slides

This session will discuss how universities are putting research culture into practice - looking at career development, support for early career researchers and approaches to building inclusive, values-led environments. Speakers will share lessons from across the sector and highlight opportunities to embed positive cultural change at an institutional level.

• Chair: Professor Andrew Jones, Vice-Chancellor and President, Brunel University of London, and Policy Lead (Research and Innovation), Universities UK Board