Conclusion 28

UKRI relies heavily on research infrastructure owned and maintained by universities.60 However, as the Russell Group informed us in its written evidence, it is becoming increasingly difficult for these institutions to make the sustained investments needed to support such infrastructure. The University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute—which was able to build on earlier work to rapidly develop a COVID-19 vaccine—illustrates the value of receiving sustained support.61 Restoring university-owned research infrastructure to a fully operational condition would cost £5.6 billion, at a time when many universities have large deficits.62