Research agency supporting high risk, high reward research formally established

Science Minister George Freeman today announces the formal establishment of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) as an independent body.

Science Minister George Freeman has today (Thursday 26 January) announced the formal establishment of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) as an independent body, beginning its work to create transformational research programmes with the potential to create new technological capabilities for the benefit of humanity.

ARIA has been designed with a unique level of freedom which puts trust in the decisions of experts in their field and empowers them to quickly allocate funding in support of their ambitious vision.

It is a key part of the government’s plans to build a better future with innovation at the heart of growing the economy and improving lives.

UK Science Minister George Freeman said:

The UK has long been a leading light in scientific discovery research and pioneering technology: from the invention of the steam engine and discovery of DNA to the first computer and Formula 1 telemetry.

As the global race for science and technology leadership heats up, we are committed to going further to cement our position as a Science Superpower: which is why we have committed to a record £39.8 billion public R&D budget in the Spending Review, alongside the creation of ARIA.

Transformational discoveries come from world class scientists and labs with the freedom to explore the unknown. We have set up ARIA as an £800 million global super lab to do just that through frontier science and technology.