Recommendation 20

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