- £481 million over the next three years for 23 major
infrastructure projects and 9 scoping studies to maintain the
UK’s position as a science superpower.
- This investment in cutting-edge facilities and equipment will
keep UK researchers and innovators at the forefront of discovery
and help address global challenges.
- The injection of funding will deliver new research capability
including the UK’s most powerful microscope and the UK’s ‘flying
lab’.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has today announced a £481
million investment in major research and innovation
infrastructure over the next three years.
The funding will power ground-breaking work across a spectrum of
disciplines and help tackle a range of societal issues, from the
impacts of climate change to adolescent mental health.
New and upgraded facilities across the UK will strengthen
international capability and transform expertise across the arts,
physics, life and environmental science, social science, medicine
and many more research areas.
Major projects include:
A transformative upgrade for the UK’s national
synchrotron (Diamond-II):
Diamond Light Source is one of the UK’s largest science
facilities called a synchrotron, which acts like a giant
microscope. The vast 561metre ring-shaped facility harnesses the
power of electrons to produce an intense beam of light that can
be used to study atoms and molecules in incredibly fine detail.
To date, Diamond has enabled ground-breaking scientific
achievements, including:
- time-critical data and resources for improved public
understanding of COVID-19;
- research of an enzyme that degrades plastic;
- a new synthetic vaccine for the virus causing foot-and-mouth
disease.
UKRI has announced a new investment of £81.5 million over the
next three years in Diamond-II, which when complete will open up
new pathways for materials research and drug development and
offer real-time insights into processes such as advanced
manufacturing and the performance of next-generation batteries.
Funding is subject to business case approvals.
A major upgrade to UKRI’s Airborne Laboratory
(FAAM):
The UK’s Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) is
a flying laboratory that enables scientists to track and evaluate
pollution, severe weather and the effects of climate change.
The aircraft analyses the atmosphere and monitors air pollution
levels over UK and international skies. It has tracked:
- dangerous gases caused by volcanic eruptions;
- surveyed drought in Africa.
£37 million will be invested in upgrading the aircraft’s
scientific equipment which will continue to support environmental
scientists for the next 18 years.
A new national innovation infrastructure providing
cutting-edge resources to the creative industries
(CoSTAR):
CoSTAR is a new creative facility for the UK’s renowned screen,
gaming and performance sectors.
The state-of-the-art facility receives funding of £24 million and
will support fast-growing creative industries to develop new
products and experiences.
It will comprise a central hub and experimental studio fitted
with real-time digital technologies such as motion and volumetric
capture, advanced technology that allows the viewer to rotate or
move around in what appears to be a three-dimensional
space. The central hub will be enhanced by a network of
regional labs across the UK.
Funding is subject to business case approvals.
UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser,
said:
“From drug discovery to advances in digital arts, advances in
research and innovation depend on access to cutting edge
equipment and facilities.
"The UK is home to world-renowned facilities in a wide range of
fields, which act as global hubs for research and
innovation. We must ensure that we renew and upgrade that
capability to keep pace with technological advances, empowering
our researchers and innovators to go further faster.
"Today, we are investing £481 million across the UK that will
ensure our talented people, teams and innovative businesses have
access to the world-class infrastructure they need to unlock
their full potential."
The three-year £481 million investment is made from UKRI’s
Infrastructure Fund. The lifetime UKRI Infrastructure Fund
investment in this portfolio is estimated to be £1.6 billion.
Many of the investments will be subject to business case and
further approvals.
