Welsh universities unite to boost research funding and bring jobs and growth

Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin has bought together Welsh universities and the UK's research funding body, UK Research and Innovation, to unlock investment.

Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin has brought Welsh universities together with the CEO of UKRI to boost collaboration and help Wales secure more research and innovation funding.

The universities agreed to collaborate more closely, marking a new chapter for the Higher Education sector in Wales. 

The initiative aims to unlock more jobs, investment and economic growth by building on Wales’s world class research strengths. 

Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin has bought together Welsh universities and the UK’s research funding body, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to unlock greater investment in research and development.  

The roundtable, chaired by Minister McMorrin, focused on how closer working could help Wales increase its share of UKRI funding and maximise the contribution of Welsh Universities to the UK’s wider growth and innovation agenda, as well as supporting growth and opportunity across the country.

Welsh universities are central to the economy of Wales and the UK, acting as anchor institutions in communities across Wales. They play a vital role in driving economic growth, supporting local businesses, developing skills and creating high-quality jobs. However, Wales currently receives only 3% of UKRI funding, despite the strong performance and international standing of its research base.

During the discussion, universities set out their shared commitment to deepen collaboration across the sector, including through existing initiatives such as the Welsh Innovation Network. This collective approach aims to build a stronger research capacity, increase competitiveness and improve the success rates of bids into UKRI funding programmes.

Wales Office Minister Anna McMorrin said: