Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
UKRI's inadequate data systems hinder strategic management and oversight of R&I grant spending.
Recommendation
UKRI is working to address significant limitations in its data systems, which restrict its ability to efficiently manage its grant spending in a strategic way. To effectively manage R&I funding, it is vital to know what is being funded across a portfolio, and against important research objectives, so that UKRI can take informed decisions such as whether projects need to be scaled up or stopped.33 Better visibility on where UKRI invests its money can also help UK trade envoys to promote opportunities for overseas investors to invest in R&I in the UK.34 Professor Boyle told us how important it is to identify geographical clusters, at which to target investment in R&I, such as the semiconductor industry in south Wales. Professor Boyle said that such clusters may already receive large amounts of innovation funding, but that such investments are not sufficiently joined-up. 35
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating UKRI is developing a new online portal to replace Gateway to Research by Summer 2026, which will improve data accessibility and coverage for the UKRI portfolio and funds managed for other departments. UKRI will report on progress by February 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
3.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Summer 2026 3.2 UKRI routinely publishes details of awards made via its funding systems through the UKRI Gateway to Research website. UKRI Gateway to Research provides ongoing open access to data on projects, people, organisations and outcomes from 2006 to the present day and is updated every quarter. 3.3 However, DSIT and UKRI acknowledge that further work is needed to ensure that this data is both comprehensive and easily accessible, and UKRI is developing a new online portal to replace Gateway to Research, currently planned to be launched in Summer 2026. The new online portal will draw data from UKRI’s data warehouse, Databank, which provides a repository for information on research and innovation grants. Work is underway to improve the coverage of the UKRI portfolio in this published data and to clearly identify funds managed on behalf of other government departments. This will improve the availability of UKRI funding data to all users, including government officials, investors and members of the public. 3.4 Changes to increase the published detail of UKRI funding data are underway now and will steadily deliver improved coverage of the portfolio. UKRI will report to the Committee on progress made and further plans in February 2026. 3.5 DSIT and UKRI will also publish a detailed breakdown of UKRI allocations for the next Spending Review period, before the start of the next financial year.