Our statement on the announcement of a new UK Government Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT)

Universities UK (UUK) welcomes the establishment of a new UK Government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

UK research is world leading and internationally excellent and is carried out in universities of many different types – from big universities with broad subject areas to small, specialist institutions. This research makes a real difference to people’s lives and supports our national interests, develops new technology, economic growth and jobs, and a better understanding of the world we live in.

We look forward to working with DSIT, as we look to deliver joint ambitions on boosting growth and opportunity across the whole of the UK. UUK’s recent report Higher Education Research and Innovation in Facts and Figures underlines how university research and innovation activity will help deliver these ambitions by attracting investment and talent, making world-leading discoveries, generating knowledge, and creating and nurturing new, innovative businesses and jobs across the UK.

As its priority, the Department should continue engagement and dialogue between UK and EU counterparts with the aim of securing full UK association to Horizon Europe; enabling UK and EU researchers to continue to work with one another on critical and mutually beneficial research projects.