Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted
UKRI's new IT systems implementation delayed, targeting 90% data availability by January 2026.
Conclusion
Despite developing modern IT systems being a priority for UKRI since 2019, the introduction of updated systems has been delayed.48 This delay, UKRI told us, was due to lengthy government procurement processes and “challenges of delivery in UKRI”.49 However, once fully functional, UKRI told us its new system should capture the data it requires and meet all UKRI’s needs, such as making it much easier and quicker to produce reports on where UKRI was placing its investments.50 We pressed UKRI on how soon it would achieve these improvements. It told us that it had a target date of January 2026 by which to have 90% of its data available in its new “Databank”.51 UKRI told us that its new system will be more user-friendly for grant applicants and efficient for UKRI staff, leaving more time to devote to the strategic role of “asking what people are applying for and how we should shape our calls”, and less time on the paperwork of putting a proposal forward.52
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged the conclusion and affirmed UKRI's ongoing organisational change programmes to enhance IT systems, data quality, and grant administration, committing to provide an update on implementation progress by February 2026.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: February 2026 4.2 UKRI’s organisational change programmes are overhauling its systems and processes to enhance grant administration, data quality, information security and to implement other essential improvements. 4.3 UKRI has been investing in improved data capabilities over the last five years and has undergone two internal audit reports noting the progress made. UKRI has developed a data warehouse, Databank, to provide a central repository for UKRI data that can be consolidated from multiple sources. As part of its organisational change approach, UKRI is producing prioritised roadmaps for investment in data and other essential improvements. 4.4 UKRI has re-contracted with its supplier for collecting research outcome data for the research councils, following market engagement and competitive open tender. The revised contract requires changes that we expect will drive improvements to the completeness, accuracy and detail of metadata captured via this process, while minimising administrative burden. Outputs are analysed annually and UKRI will demonstrate these improvements by September 2026. 4.5 UKRI’s in-house systems for processing grant funding applications allow scope to invest to take account of changing user needs over time. UKRI will maintain a careful balance between: a) harmonisation and simplification with a focus on the efficiency of operations both within UKRI and the organisations we fund, and b) the need for flexibility and innovation to maximise the effectiveness of the platform in supporting the best R&I outcomes. 4.6 UKRI will provide an update to the Committee in February 2026 on implementation progress of the wider organisational change programme and plans for further modernisation.