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Introduction

Explore the impactful role of UKRI funding in stimulating urban regeneration. Discover how this vital investment is driving innovation and sustainable development in both industry and academia. Witness the transformation of UK cities, as they evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century, powered by scientific research and technological advancements. Begin the journey to uncover the fascinating story behind the change.

What is UKRI

The United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body of the UK government, responsible for funding research and innovation across a wide range of disciplines. UKRI operates across the whole of the UK with a combined budget of more than £7 billion, bringing together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK, and Research England.

UKRI plays a significant role in urban regeneration by supporting research and innovation projects that aim to rejuvenate urban areas, drive economic growth, and enhance the quality of life for citizens. Through funding initiatives, UKRI encourages collaborations between academia, industry, and government to address urban challenges and develop sustainable solutions.

Through its funding, UKRI has been a driving force behind many successful urban regeneration projects, enabling the revitalization of urban areas, the creation of new jobs, and the advancement of cutting-edge research and technology. It remains committed to supporting innovative projects that can transform urban living and contribute to a sustainable future. For more videos, check out the UKRI YouTube channel.

Our Focus

  • What patterns emerge in the distribution of UKRI university funding,
    and how do they reflect funding inequalities between disciplines or regions?
  • How does innovation funding allocation across key industries? Does it change over time?
    Which projects are received the highest funding?
  • How do UKRI funding strategies in both industry and academia contribute to
    long-term urban development?

Overview

UKRI University Funding
Since 2015 to 2020

26,544 Projects

685 Institutes

£13.9B Funding

This chart showcases the concentration of research activities in the UK. A closer look reveals that the University College London and The University of Oxford are the most active research centers, with 876 and 800 funded projects respectively. This level of activity could imply a robust and diverse research environment at these institutions.

This chart allows us to observe the financial landscape of research funding. Interestingly, the University College London not only leads in the number of projects, but also in the total amount of funding received. This suggests that they might be involved in more costly, large-scale projects. It's also noteworthy that the distribution of funds isn't strictly proportional to the number of projects, indicating that different projects and research areas have varied funding needs.

UKRI Innovate Projects Funding
Since 2004 to 2023

55,498 Projects

22,621 Companies

13B £ Funding


Learn More about Each Sector

Sector 1

Manufacturing Materials & Mobility



UK-funded sector of manufacturing materials and mobility refers to a specific area of manufacturing industry that involves the production of materials and components used in transportation systems. Some examples of products that are produced within this sector include lightweight materials for vehicles, such as carbon fiber composites, and advanced propulsion systems, such as electric and hybrid powertrains.


Past Five Years:
Project Number 11.2 Billion
Award Offered 3.1 Billion

Sector 2

AI & Data Economy



The UK-funded sector of AI and data economy refers to a specific area of the economy that involves the development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics technologies.Some examples of applications for AI and data analytics within this sector include personalized marketing and advertising, fraud detection, predictive maintenance, and supply chain optimization.


Past Five Years:
Project Number 1.4 Billion
Award Offered 31 Million

Sector 3

Clean Growth & Infastructure



The UK-funded sector of Clean Growth & Infrastructure refers to a specific area of the economy that involves the development and implementation of technologies, products and services that promote clean growth and sustainable development. This includes a wide range of activities such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, sustainable transport, and low-carbon buildings.


Past Five Years:
Project Number 4.5 Billion
Award Offered 1 Billion

Sector 4

Ageing Society & Health Nutrition



The UK-funded sector of ageing society, health & nutrition refers to a specific area of the economy that involves the development and delivery of products and services that promote healthy ageing and improve the health and well-being of citizens. This includes a wide range of activities such as healthcare, nutrition, social care, and assistive technologies.


Past Five Years:
Project Number 5.9 Billion
Award Offered 1.3 Billion

Sector 5

Disruptive Technology



The UK-funded sector of disruptive innovations refers to a specific area of the economy that involves the development and application of innovative technologies, products, and services that have the potential to disrupt existing markets and create new ones. This includes a wide range of activities such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, quantum computing, and nanotechnology.


Past Five Years:
Project Number 31.9 Billion
Award Offered 1.29 Billion

This pie chart represents the distribution of projects across different research themes. From this chart, we can infer that 'Disruptive Technology' and 'Manufacturing, Materials & Mobility' are the most explored research areas, accounting for more than 60% of the projects. This suggests a strong focus on technological innovation and industrial application within the funded projects.

This pie chart depicts the funding distribution among the same research themes. Here, we see a significant shift. While 'Disruptive Technology' had the highest number of projects, it does not receive the most funding. Instead, 'Manufacturing, Materials & Mobility' takes the largest share of the funding, followed by 'Ageing Society, Health & Nutrition' and 'Clean Growth & Infrastructure'. This suggests that while disruptive technologies may be numerous, they might be less capital-intensive than projects in other areas.

Comparison Map 2011 to 2021


Click the map to see the detail

Case Study

About Us

Member 1

Zuqi Dong

Member 2

Danming Cao

Member 3

James (Nutthaphol Rakratchatakul)

Member 4

Tom Murat